EXTENSIVE    VIEW    OE    THE    CENTRAL,    FLOWERY    NATION. 


% 


MISCELLANEOUS 


REMARKS 


UPON  THE 

GOVERNMENT,   HISTORY,   RELIGIONS,  LITER- 
ATURE,   AGRICULTURE,    ARTS,    TRADES, 
MANNERS,    AND    CUSTOMS    OF    THE 


CHINESE: 


AS  SUGGESTED  BY  AN 

EXAMINATION  OF  THE  ARTICLES 

COMPRISING  TEE 


CHINESE 


mm 


V 


MARLBORO'  CHAPEL, 
BOSTON, 

BY  JOHN  R.  PETERS,  JR. 


BOSTON: 
1845. 

EASTBURN'S  PRESS 


it 


i 


Entered  according  to  the  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1845,  by 

John  R.  Peters,  Jr., 

(For  the  Proprietors  of  the  Chinese  Museum,)  in  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the 

District  Court  of  Massachusetts. 


INTRODUCTION. 


Within  a  few  years  past,  attention  has  been  particu- 
larly directed  towards  China,  by  her  war  with  En- 
gland, and  since  the  conclusion  of  that  war,  the  United 
States  and  other  nations  have  hastened  to  make  treat- 
ies with  the  Celestial  Empire,  by  which,  to  put  them- 
selves on  a  footing  with  the  most  favored.  The  zeal 
and  enterprise  of  individuals  have  also  been  awakened. 
Christian  communities  are  adding  to  the  number  of 
their  Missionaries  among  this  nation  of  idolaters,  and 
merchants  are  flocking  to  the  shores  of  China  in  pur- 
suit of  gain.  Many  excellent  works  have  been  written 
on  China,  but  in  this  reading  age,  books,  periodicals 
and  newspapers  have  become  so  multiplied,  that  sight, 
as  well  as  description  is  necessary  to  make  a  lasting 
impression  upon  the  mind.  As  information  is  now 
eagerly  sought  after,  concerning  China  and  its  hundreds 
of  millions  of  inhabitants,  this  collection  and  the  accom- 
panying work  have  been  made  to  furnish  it.  The  col- 
lection was  formed  without  reference  to  labor  or  ex- 
pense, and  with  the  aid  of  Chinese,  and  of  the  Ameri- 
can Missionaries,  who  have  resided  a  long  time  in  the 
country,  and  who  are  well  acquainted  with  the  lan- 
guage, manners  and  customs  of  this  curious  people. 


In  collecting  the  materials  for  this  book,  the  best  works 
on  the  subject  have  been  consulted,  and  in  most  in- 
stances the  information  derived  from  them  is  presented 
in  a  condensed  form.  Among  the  works  used,  may  be 
mentioned  the  Chinese  Repository,  Dr.  Bridgman's 
Chrestomathy,  and  the  works  of  Medhurst,  Davis,  Bar- 
row, Staunton,  Timkowski,  Kidd,  and  Gutzlaff,  as  the 
principal  ones  to  which  this  work  is  indebted. 

JOHN  R.  PETERS,  Jr. 
*  August  15,  1845. 


GENERAL  VIEW 


ENTRANCE  AND  INTERIOR  OF  THE  MUSEUM. 


The  entrance  to  the  Chinese  Museum,  as  fitted  up 
in  the  large  hall  in  the  Marlboro'  Chapel,  is  made  to 
represent  the  entrance  to  a  Chinese  Jos  house  or  tem- 
ple. Across  the  whole  front,  above  the  door-way, 
extends  a  beautiful  carved,  lacquered  and  gilt  cornice, 
called  by  the  Chinese,  "  Um-Yum."  Beneath  this,  in 
the  centre,  is  suspended  the  "Tsoi-moon"  or  "Lucky 
door,"  a  fanciful  shaped  frame  divided  in  panels,  richly 
carved  and  finished  with  gold  and  lacquer.  On  either 
side  of  the  "Tsoi-moon"  is  suspended  an  enormous 
lantern  covered  with  paintings  of  the  Chinese  dragon. 
Over  the  door  is  an  inscription  in  large,  golden  charac- 
ters, reading  from  right  to  left,  as  follows:  "  Choong- 
wa-tie-Koon,"  or  in  English,  "  An  extensive  view  of 
the  central  flowery  nation."  On  the  sides  of  the  door 
are  suspended  two  tablets  with  the  following  characters 
upon  them,  reading  downwards  and  beginning  with  the 
one  on  the  right,  viz  :  "  Een-tsze-chaow-shy-hum-wy- 
gni."  "  Mow-tsze-eeu-yon-she-maw-laaung."  A  Chi- 
nese aphorism.  A  free  translation  of  which  is,  "Words 
may  deceive,  but  the  eye  cannot  play  the  rogue." 

By  turning  to  the  left  in  ascending  the  stairway,  the 
visitor  will  find  the  cases  numbered  around  the  room  in 
regular  order  as  in  the  catalogue,  the  small  cases  being 
numbered  last. 


As  much  of  this  large  collection  as  the  hall,  which  is 
one  hundred  feet  long  by  seventy  feet  wide,  will  accom- 
modate, has  been  arranged.  The  two  sides,  the  extreme 
end  and  the  middle,  are  occupied  by  large  cases,  which, 
with  the  exception  of  one,  contains  groups  of  figures  of 
the  full  size  of  life,  likenesses  of  individual  Chinese, 
dressed  in  the  costumes  appropriate  to  the  situations 
and  employments  in  which  they  are  represented.  Two 
of  the  cases  are  facsimilies  of  occupied  rooms,  com- 
pletely, but  differently  furnished,  in  the  houses  of  a 
wealthy  person.  Another  case  is  a  complete  represent- 
ation of  a  Chinese  store  with  the  merchant,  his  assist- 
ants, a  purchaser,  &c. 

Between  the  large  middle  and  side  cases,  many 
smaller  ones  are  arranged,  containing  models  of  houses, 
bridges,  vessels,  &c,  and  others  containing  an  immense 
number  of  specimens  of  Chinese  arts  and  manufacture, 
articles  esteemed  curiosities  by  the  Chinese  themselves, 
beautiful  specimens  of  their  curious  and  wonderful  art 
of  carving  in  ivory,  sandal  wood,  tortoise  shell,  stone, 
&c.  Also  many  articles  of  food  peculiar  to  them,  as 
birds'  nests,  sea  slugs,  sharks'  fins  and  others. 

The  end  of  the  room  at  the  entrance  is  covered  with 
a  large  and  beautiful  collection  of  Chinese  paintings  in 
oil  and  water  colors,  consisting  of  landscapes,  portraits 
of  Mandarins,  and  Hong  merchants,  views  of  the  differ- 
ent processes  of  manufacturing  porcelain,  silk  and  cot- 
ton, raising  and  curing  tea  and  rice,  and  a  great  variety 
of  others. 

The  ceiling  is  covered  with  a  great  number  of  lan- 
terns suspended  from  it,  many  of  them  of  beautiful 
construction  and  materials,  and  others,  the  forms  of 
which  could  hardly  originate  in  any  other  than  the  dis- 
torted fancy  of  a  Chinese. 

The  Museum  is  exclusively  Chinese,  collected  from 
all  parts  of  the  Empire,  and  with  the  aid  of  this  work, 


will  give  the  visitor  a  better  knowledge  of  this  curious 
people  than  can  be  acquired  by  reading  the  most  faith- 
ful descriptions  alone,  or  even  by  a  transient  visit  to 
China. 

There  is  only  one  other  Museum  of  this  kind  in  the 
world  ;  which  is  that  brought  from  China,  by  the  late 
Mr.  Dunn,  of  Philadelphia,  who  resided  in  the  "  Ce- 
lestial Empire"  for  a  number  of  years.  His  Museum 
was  opened  in  Philadelphia  in  ]  839,  exhibited  for  a  few 
months  and  then  removed  to  London,  where  it  no% 
remains. 

To  make  the  Museum  still  more  attractive  there  are 
two  Chinese  attached  to  it,  one  of  whom  "  T'sow- 
Chaoong,"  speaks  English,  and  is  ready  to  give  visitors 
any  information  in  his  power.  The  other  named  "  Le- 
Kaw-hing,"  or  Professor  "  Kaw-hing"  was  a  teacher  of 
music  in  his  native  land,  but  having  acquired  the  habit 
of  smoking  opium  and  not  being  able  to  give  it  up 
while  there,  left  his  country  for  that  purpose  and  has 
succeeded  in  his  undertaking.  He  will  occasionally 
favor  visitors  with  a  Chinese  song,  accompanying  him- 
self on  some  of  his  original  and  curious  instruments. 


CASE    I. 

;     No.  1.  The  Emperor  Taou  Kwang,  (reason's  glory.) 

2.  Mandarin  of  the  first  rank. 

3.  Mandarin  of  the  second  rank. 

4.  Mandarin  of  the  third  rank. 

5.  Mandarin  of  the  fourth  rank. 

6.  Military  Mandarin  of  the  fifth  rank. 

7.  Military  Mandarin  of  the  sixth  rank. 
Mctgnificent  embroidered  satin  screen  suspended 

on  the  wall. 
View  of  the  great  wall  of  China  through  the  door- 
way on  the  right. 
View  on  the  left  of  part  of  one  of  the  ancient  Im- 
perial palaces  on  the  island  of  Tseaou-shan  in 
the  Yang-tsz-Keang  near  Nanking. 
On  the  top  of  this  case  is  one  of  a  pair  of  hideous  look- 
ing figures  such  as  stand  at  the  door-ways  of  Chinese 
temples,  to  guard  the  entrance.     The  China  ware  drag- 
ons are  such  as  ornament  the  corners  and  other  parts  of 
the  roofs  of  sacred  edifices. 

This  case  contains  a  figure  of  the  Emperor,  six  Man- 
darins of  the  highest  grades,  and  a  beautiful  embroid- 
ered red  satin  screen. 

The  figures  are  clothed  in  the  splendidly  embroidered 
satin  state  dresses  worn  only  at  court  or  upon  the  most 
solemn  occasions. 

In  the  head  of  His  Imperial  Majesty  we  have  an  ad- 
mirable likeness  of  His  High  Commissioner  Keying, 
who  is  said  to  bear  a  strong  resemblance  to  him,  and 
has  had  the  honor  to  negotiate  all  the  late  treaties  made 
by  the  Celestial  Empire  with  foreign  nations. 

The  "  Son  of  Heaven,"  or  "  Ten  thousand  years," 


10  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I. 

as  his  titles  read,  clothed  in  the  richest  embroidered  Im- 
perial yellow,  which  his  subjects  may  not  wear,  and 
seated  in  the  dragon  chair  of  state,  upon  which  a  lib- 
eral number  of  heads  of  this  fabulous  animal  stand  con- 
spicuous, has  just  affixed  the  vermillion  pencil  ratifying 
the  treaty  between  China  and  the  United  States,  pre- 
sented by  one  of  his  counsellors. 

The  four  Mandarins  standing  in  front  with  their 
heads  respectfully  covered  according  to  Chinese  eti- 
quette, which  is  the  opposite  to  ours  in  many  respects, 
are  of  the  four  highest  grades  in  the  empire ;  this  is 
also  the  number  of  the  chief  officers  of  the  Imperial 
Council,  two  of  whom  are  Tartars  and  two  Chinese, 
who  serve  as  a  communication  between  the  Emperor 
and  the  different  boards  of  civil  office,  revenue,  rites, 
war,  &c,  having  charge  of  the  affairs  of  the  Empire. 

The  Military  Mandarins  standing  a  little  in  the  rear 
of  His  Majesty,  as  body  guards,  are  of  the  fifth  and 
sixth  grades. 

Each  figure  in  this  case  has  a  string  of  court  beads 
about  the  neck,  part  of  which  consists  of  a  single  string 
running  a  short  way  down  the  back  and  terminating  in 
an  ornament  made  of  some  precious  stone  set  in  gold. 
Peacocks'  feathers,  which  are  also  badges  of  rank,  are 
fastened  to  the  knobs  of  their  caps  and  hang  down  be- 
hind, and  the  usual  accompaniments  of  rank  and 
wealth  are  seen  at  their  sides,  consisting  of  embroider- 
ed fan  cases  and  small  bags  for  containing  areca  nut 
and  tobacco.  A  great  part  of  the  embroidery  upon  the 
dresses  of  most  of  the  figures  in  this  case  is  concealed 
by  the  " Makwa"  "riding  coat,"  or  upper  garment. 

The  splendid  sereen  suspended  at  the  back  of  this 
case,  together  with  that  in  No.  2,  are  supposed  to  have 
been  taken  at  the  north  during  the  war  with  Great 
Britain,  and  were  presents  to  two  aged  persons  from 
the  officers  of  the  districts  in  which  they  resided.    They 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I.  11 

are  made  of  beautiful  materials,  and  the  elegant  writing 
and  rich  embroidery  upon  them,  done  in  gold  thread 
and  floss  silk,  show  that  no  labor  or  expense  were  spar- 
ed in  making  them  every  way  worthy  of  the  donors  and 
those  they  intended  to  honor.  A  translation  of  one  of 
them  has  been  deemed  sufficient,  and  will  be  found  in 
the  description  of  figures,  &c.  in  No.  2. 

The  Chinese  divide  their  civil  and  military  officers 
into  nine  ranks,  distinguishable  by  balls  or  knobs,  upon 
the  apex  of  their  conical  caps,  of  different  colors  and 
substances,  and  square  pieces  of  embroidery  upon  the 
breasts  and  backs  of  their  dresses,  representing  a  bird 
for  a  civil  and  a  beast  for  a  military  officer.  The  in- 
dication of  the  first  rank  is  a  ball  or  knob  of  red  pre- 
cious stone,  the  second  red  coral,  the  third  blue,  the 
fourth  dark  blue  or  purple,  the  fifth  chrystal,  the  sixth 
opaque  white,  and  the  seventh,  eighth  and  ninth,  by 
gold  or  gilt  ones,  distinguished  by  being  flowered  or 
plain.  Nobility  in  China  is  only  hereditary  in  the  fam- 
ily and  connexions  of  the  Emperor,  and  extends  to  all 
his  relations  descended  from  the  same  ancestors;  all 
those  of  his  mother  and  grandmother  within  four  de- 
grees ;  and  lastly  all  those  of  the  consort  of  the  crown 
prince  within  two  degrees.  These  are  styled  princes, 
are  of  different  degrees  of  rank,  distinguished  by  the 
colors  of  their  girdles,  are  obliged  to  reside  within  the 
precincts  of  the  Imperial  city,  and  receive  pensions 
from  the  Emperor  for  their  support.  They  appear  to 
possess  little  or  no  influence,  and  are  not  treated  with 
much  respect  by  the  official  nobility,  who  consist  of 
those  possessing  the  first  rank  in  the  Empire,  those  of 
the  second  who  are  employed  in  any  official  capacity, 
and  those  of  the  third,  whose  office  confers  any  civil  or 
military  command.  The  five  titles  are  kung,  how,  pih, 
tsze,  and  nan,  which  are  equivalent  to  duke,  count, 
baron,  baronet,  and  knight.     The  two  last  are  of  infe- 


12  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I. 

rior  consequence,  while  the  first  three  take  precedence 
of  those  standing  in  the  first  of  the  nine  ranks  without 
these  titles. 

"  The  chief  source  of  rank  and  consideration  in  China 
is  certainly  cultivated  talent ;  and  whatever  may  be  the 
character  of  the  learning  on  which  it  is  exercised,  this 
at  least  is  a  more  legitimate  as  well  as  more  beneficial 
object  of  respect  than  the  vulgar  pretensions  of  wealth 
and  fashion,  or  the  accidental  one  of  mere  birth." 

"  Wealth  alone  though  it  has  of  course  some  neces- 
sary influence,  is  looked  upon  with  less  respect  com- 
paratively, than  perhaps  in  any  other  country.  The 
choice  of  official  persons,  who  form  the  real  aristocracy 
of  the  country,  is  guided,  with  a  very  few  exceptions, 
by  the  possession  of  educated  talent ;  and  the  country 
is  therefore  as  ably  ruled  as  it  could  be  under  the  cir- 
cumstances." 

"  All  real  rank  of  consequence  being  determined  by 
talent,  the  test  of  this  is  afforded  at  the  public  examina- 
tions. These  are  open  to  the  poorest  persons ;  and 
only  some  classes,  as  menial  servants,  comedians,  and 
the  lowest  agents  of  the  police,  are  excluded.  The 
literary  degrees  to  be  acquired  are  four,  viz :  "sew- 
tsae"  talent  flowering,  "  keu-jin"  elevated  persons, 
"tsin-tse"  advanced  scholars,  and  "han-lin"  ascended 
to  the  top  of  the  trees.  The  examinations  for  the  first 
two  degrees  are  held  in  the  districts  and  principal  cities 
of  the  provinces,  and  the  third  and  fourth  triennially  in 
the  capital,  the  latter  being  in  the  presence  of  the  Em- 
peror himself.  To  pass  the  examinations  it  is  not  ne- 
cessary for  the  candidates  to  explore  the  realms  of  na- 
ture. Geography,  astronomy,  chemistry,  anatomy,  and 
mechanics  are  little  known,  and  the  celestials  are  still 
ignorant  of  the  laws  of  electricity,  galvanism,  and  mag- 
netism, the  theories  of  light,  heat,  and  sound,  the  use 
of  gas  for  illumination  and  the  giant  powers  of  steam. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I.  13 

The  highest  excellence  consists  in  closely  imitating  the 
ancients  who  are  their  paragons  of  excellence,  and  to 
attempt  to  surpass  them  in  virtue  or  intelligence  would 
be  the  height  of  presumption.  The  sacred  four  books 
and  five  classics,  compiled  by  the  Chinese  sage,  Con- 
fucius, and  his  disciples  ages  ago,  are  the  text-books 
of  the  student  of  the  present  day.  A  perfect  knowledge 
of  these  with  the  authorized  commentaries  upon  them, 
with  a  thorough  acquaintance  with  the  history  of  China 
from  the  earliest  antiquity  is  what  is  required  of  them. 
The  chief  excellency  of  their  essays  for  examination 
consists  in  introducing  as  many  quotations  as  possible, 
and  the  farther  they  go  back,  for  recondite  and  unusual 
expressions,  the  better ;  but  they  are  deprived  of  every 
scrap  of  writing,  and  are  expected  to  carry  their  library, 
to  use  their  own  phrases,  in  their  stomachs,  that  they  may 
bring  forth  their  literary  stores  as  occasion  requires." 

"  This  knowledge  can  only  be  acquired  by  great  ap- 
plication and  perseverance.  The  first  five  or  six  years 
at  school  are  spent  in  committing  the  canonical  books 
to  memory ;  another  six  years  are  required  to  supply 
them  with  phrases  for  a  good  style ;  and  an  additional 
number  of  years,  spent  in  incessant  toil,  are  needed  to 
insure  success.  Long  before  the  break  of  day,  the 
Chinese  student  may  be  heard  chaunting  the  sacred 
books ;  and  till  late  at  night  the  same  task  is  continued. 
They  tell  of  one,  who,  fearing  the  task  assigned  him 
was  too  hard,  gave  up  his  books  in  despair ;  and  was 
returning  to  a  manual  employment,  when  he  saw  an 
old  woman  rubbing  a  crowbar  on  a  stone;  on  asking 
her  the  reason,  she  replied  that  she  was  in  want  of  a 
needle,  and  thought  that  she  would  rub  down  the  crow- 
bar till  she  got  it  small  enough.  The  patience  of  the 
aged  female  provoked  him  to  make  another  attempt, 
and  he  succeeded  in  attaining  to  the  highest  rank  in 
the  empire." 


14  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I. 

"The  stimulus  given  to  energetic  perseverance  by 
making  the  highest  offices  attainable  by  nearly  all 
classes,  is  immense,  and  the  effect,  in  encouraging 
learning,  incalculable.  All  persons  acquire  some  know- 
ledge of  letters;  and  learning,  such  as  it  is,  is  more 
common  in  China,  than  in  any  other  part  of  the  world. 
Six  poor  brethren  will  frequently  agree  to  labor  hard, 
to  support  the  seventh  at  his  books;  with  the  hope 
that  should  he  succeed,  and  acquire  office,  he  may 
throw  a  protecting  influence  over  his  family,  and  re- 
ward them  for  their  toil.  Others  persevere  to  the  de- 
cline of  life,  in  the  pursuit  of  literary  fame ;  and  old 
men  of  eighty,  have  been  known  to  die,  of  sheer  ex- 
citement and  exhaustion,  in  the  examination  halls.  In 
short,  difficulties  vanish  before  them,  and  they  cheer 
each  other  on,  with  verses  like  the  following : — 

'•  Men  have  dug  through  mountains,  to  cut  a  channel  for  the  sea;. 
"And  bare  melted  the  very  stones,  to  repair  the  southern  skies; 
"Under  the  whole  heaven,  there  i.s  nothing  difficult, 
"It  is  only  that  men's  minds  are  not  determined." 

Out  of  about  10,000  candidates,  who  enter  the  lists 
for  the  third  degree,  300  only  are  selected,  and  become 
immediately  eligible  to  office.  The  first  post  to  which 
they  are  appointed,  is  the  superintendency  of  a  dis- 
trict, and  there  is  not  a  magistrate  throughout  the  Em- 
pire who  has  not  attained  the  degree  referred  to.  At 
the  fourth  and  last  examination,  which  is  very  rigor- 
ous, a  small  number  are  chosen  from  the  300  who  at- 
tain the  third  degree,  to  enter  the  Han-lin-yuen  or  Na- 
tional Institute,  the  members  of  which  are  considered 
the  elite  of  the  country  and  from  amongst  them  the 
highest  officers  of  the  state  are  generally  selected. 

Nominal  rank  and  titles,  with  the  privilege  of  wear- 
ing the  dress  and  distinctive  badges  of  mandarins,  may 
be  purchased,  for  large  sums,  at  any  time,  the  only  ad- 
vantages being  the  gratification  of  personal  vanity  and 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I.  15 

exemption  from  summary  infliction  of  the  bamboo. 
But  offices  are  to  be  had  at  times,  by  making  liberal 
subscriptions  to  the  wants  of  government.  A  son  of 
Howqua,  (the  richest  of  the  Hong  merchants,  who  died 
a  few  months  since)  was  created  a  Keujin,  in  1831, 
for  subscribing  36,000  taels,  (above  50,000  dollars) 
to  repair  the  dykes  of  a  portion  of  Canton  River,  in- 
jured by  an  inundation  ;  and  another  son,  or  his  father 
in  his  name,  contributed  100,000  taels  (about  140,000 
dollars)  towards  the  war  in  Tartary.  This  liberal  do- 
nation his  majesty  did  him  "  the  favor  graciously  to 
accept"  and  conferred  upon  the  son  the  rank  and  title 
of  "  Director  of  the  Salt  Monopoly." 

The  practice  of  disposing  of  office  is  strongly  repro- 
bated by  the  Chinese,  who  justly  consider  the  literary 
institution  the  glory  of  their  country. 

The  Emperor  is  distinguished  from  his  officers,  by 
his  yellow  dress,  upon  which  the  imperial  dragon  is 
wrought  in  gold,  and  a  pearl  of  great  value  adorning 
,  his  cap.  He  is  called  the  father  of  his  people  and  is 
supreme  ruler  of  the  lives  and  fortunes  of  about  four 
hundred  millions  of  the  human  family  or  more  than 
one  third  of  the  inhabitants  of  the  globe.  "  He  is  held 
to  be  the  vicegerent  of  Heaven,  especially  chosen  to 
govern  all  nations ;  and  is  supreme  in  everything, 
holding  at  once  the  highest  legislative  and  executive 
powers,  without  limitation  or  control.  He  is,  hence, 
entitled  Tien-tsze,  the  son  of  Heaven;  and  is  clothed 
with  most  of  the  prerogatives  of  Deity.  From  him  em- 
anate all  power  and  authority  ;  the  whole  earth  it  is  ig- 
norantly  supposed  (and  it  is  the  policy  of  such  as  are 
better  informed  to  perpetuate  the  ignorant  notion,)  is 
subject  to  his  sway ;  and  from  him  as  the  fountain  of 
power,  rank,  honor,  and  privilege,  all  Kings  derive 
their  sovereignty  over  the  nations.  It  is  in  conformity 
with  these  haughty  pretensions,  that  China  has  ever  re- 


16  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I. 

fused   to    negotiate   with  "  outside   barbarians,"   until 
compelled  to  do  so  by  force  stronger  than  her  own. 

"  The  power  of  the  sovereign  is  absolute,  as  that  of 
a  father  over  his  children;  although,  theoretically,  he  is 
under  the  control  of.  the  heavenly  decrees  (of  which 
however  he  is  himself  interpreter  ;)  and  practically,  is 
in  a  great  degree  subject  to  the  influence  of  public 
opinion,  of  customs,  and  of  the  enactments  of  his  im- 
mediate ancestors  and  predecessors.  As  his  will  is 
law,  it  would  be  idle  to  attempt  a  specific  enumeration 
of  all  the  prerogatives  that  belong  to  him.  A  state- 
ment of  a  kw  of  the  peculiar  rights  maintained  by  the 
crown  must  suffice.  The  Emperor  is  the  head  of  all 
religion,  and  is  alone  privileged  to  pay  adoration  to 
Heaven  (or  the  supreme  ruler  of  the  universe.)  He  is 
the  source  of  law  and  fountain  of  justice.  There  can 
be  no  appeal  from  his  judgment ;  and  the  gift  of  mercy 
belongs  alone  to  him.  No  right  can  be  held  in  oppo- 
sition to  his  pleasure  ;  no  claim  can  be  maintained 
against  him  ;  no  privilege  can  protect  from  his  wrath, 
if  it  be  his  will  to  set  aside  establishod  rules  and  cus- 
toms. He  is  the  main  spring  of  the  administration  ; 
none  can  act  but  under  his  authority  and  commission. 
All  the  forces  and  revenues  of  the  Empire  are  his ;  and 
he  does  with  them  whatsoever  he  pleases.  He  has  an 
indisputed  claim  upon  the  services  of  all  his  people, 
and  in  particular  of  all  males  between  the  ages  of  16 
and  60 ;  but  this  is  a  claim  which  it  is  rarely  attempted 
to  enforce.  In  a  word  the  whole  Empire  is  his  prop- 
erty." 

"  The  right  of  succession  to  the  throne  is  by  custom, 
hereditary  in  the  male  line  ;  but  it  is  always  in  the 
powrer  of  the  sovereign  to  nominate  his  successor, 
either  from  among  his  own  children,  or  from  among 
any  other  of  his  subjects.  The  successor  is  frequently 
nominated  during  the  father's  life  time,  in  which  case 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      I.  17 

he  possesses  several  exclusive  privileges,  as  crown 
prince.  The  duties  to  be  observed  by  the  sovereign, 
are  strictly  understood  to  consist  in  attention  to  the 
moral  and  political  maxims  of  the  ancient  philosophers, 
Confucius  and  Mencius,  and  their  most  celebrated  dis- 
ciples, as  detailed  in  their  far  famed  works,  the  Five 
Classics,  and  the  Four  Books." 

It  would  indeed  be  strange,  if  in  a  country  of  such 
vast  extent  as  China,  abuses  of  power  did  not  some- 
time occur  ;  but  a  happy,  contented,  and  industrious 
population  is  a  pretty  sure  indication  that  the  govern- 
ment is,  on  the  whole,  well  administered,  and  procla- 
mations like  the  following,  show  that  the  '  Son  of 
Heaven,'  notwithstanding  the  immense  power  confer- 
red upon  him  is  careful  of  his  reputation  amongst  his 
children. 

"  On  the  30th  of  April,  1819,  a  hurricane  from  the 
south  east,  brought  prodigious  quantities  of  sand  from 
the  sea  coast  to  the  capital.  The  whole  air  looked 
like  a  thick  yellow  mass ;  at  the  same  time  a  cloud 
covered  the  sun,  so  that  Peking  was  suddenly  involved 
in  darkness  ;  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish  objects  at 
the  distance  of  a  few  paces." 

"  The  philosophy  of  the  Chinese,  founded  upon  their 
classical  books,  teaches  them  that  every  phenomenon 
is  a  presage  by  which  Heaven  announces  that  morals 
are  corrupted,  and  that  the  Emperor  and  his  agents 
must  do  their  utmost  to  restore  their  purity.  Kia-King 
desiring  to  prove  his  repentance,  and  to  calm  the  su- 
perstitious fears  of  the  Chinese  people,  published  on  the 
1st  May,  1819,  the  following  ordinance. 

"  Yesterday,  at  three  quarters  past  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon,  a  south-east  wind  suddenly  arose.  In  a  few 
minutes  the  air  and  the  inside  of  the  houses  were  so 
filled  with  sand,  that  it  was  impossible  to  distinguish 
objects  without  the  help  of  a  candle.     This  event  is 


18  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      I. 

very  extraordinary.  Seized  with  terror  at  the  bottom 
of  my  heart,  I  passed  the  night  without  sleep,  endeavor- 
ing to  divine  the  cause  of  the  anger  of  Heaven. 

"According  to  the  signs  laid  down  in  the  great 
model,  to  discover  perversity,  a  long  continued  wind 
indicates  infatuation.  The  cause  comes  from  myself, 
who  have  probably  not  been  sufficiently  vigilant  in  the 
acts  of  my  reign,  and  entrusted  the  affairs  of  the  Em- 
pire to  unskilful  hands.  Perhaps  the  ignorance  of 
negligent  Mandarins  has  hindered  the  complaints  of  the 
nation  from  reaching  the  throne,  and  the  results  of  a 
vicious  administration  have  not  allowed  me  to  remedy 
the  evils  which  afflict  the  people. 

"  Perhaps  there  are  among  the  Mandarins  of  Peking 
and  other  cities  of  China,  wicked  and  unjust  men,  whose 
bad  conduct  has  not  been  known  to  me.  It  is  the 
duty  of  the  officers  who  represent  me,  to  share  in  my 
fears  caused  by  the  anger  of  Heaven.  Each  of  them 
is  obliged  to  acquaint  me  of  everything  that  passes,  not 
out  of  self  interest,  but  through  zeal  alone.  If  there 
are  faults  in  the  administration,  if  it  is  necessary  to  in- 
troduce ameliorations,  or  to  make  changes,  it  is  for 
them  to  point  them  out  with  minuteness  and  impartial- 
ity. If  any  of  my  subjects  suffer  innocently,  his  com- 
plaint should  be  laid  before  me,  in  order  that  I  may  do 
him  open  justice. 

"As  for  the  Mandarins  whose  administration  is  inju- 
rious to  the  welfare  of  the  Empire,  and  who  oppress  the 
people — who,  having  recourse  to  cunning  and  artifice, 
execute  one  thing  and  neglect  another — who,  deviating 
from  the  regular  mode  of  business,  act  only  according 
to  circumstances, — it  is  my  will  that  a  detailed  report 
be  laid  before  me  respecting  the  misdeeds  of  these 
wicked  men.  Such  representations  will  be  the  proof 
of  real  zeal  for  the  throne,  and  I  shall  derive  from  them- 
all  the  advantages  to  the  Empire  winch  are  conformable 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I.  19 

to  the  commands  of  Heaven.  But  if  advantage  should 
be  taken  of  this  to  serve  private  hatred  or  interest,  and 
to  make  false  accusations  through  a  spirit  of  revenge 
and  personal  animosity,  then  on  the  contrary,  white 
becomes  black,  and  truth  is  mixed  with  falsehood,  and 
the  orders  which  I  give  not  only  become  useless,  but 
increase  the  blindness  of  the  wicked.  In  our  days  the 
human  heart  is  perverse  and  corrupted ;  secret  and 
anonymous  accusations  are  made  against  honest  men, 
and  often  cause  their  ruin,  which  is  sufficient  to  draw 
down  the  anger  of  Heaven.  The  wind  came  from  the 
south-cast ;  it  must  therefore  be  supposed  that  rebels 
unknown  to  the  government  are  towards  the  south-east, 
and  that  their  impunity  is  the  cause  of  the  derangement 
of  the  Celestial  harmony. 

"Full  of  terror  and  alarm  I  think  only  of  examining 
myself,  and  endeavoring  to  amend.  I  sincerely  inquire 
into  every  thing.  The  superior  and  inferior  Mandarins 
of  Peking,  as  well  as  those  out  of  the  capital,  are  bound 
to  turn  their  attention  to  their  own  faults,  to  endeavor 
with  their  whole  hearts,  and  with  their  whole  strength, 
to  fulfil  the  duties  of  the  offices  entrusted  to  them.  By 
seconding  my  intentions  they  will  succeed  in  strength- 
ening their  own  virtue,  and  in  preserving  the  nation  in 
future  from  the  evils  which  are  predicted." 

The  present  Mantchou  Tartar  dynasty,  who  style 
themselves  Ta  Tsing  (great  pure,)  ascended  the  throne 
in  1644,  200  years  ago.  The  reigning  Emperor,  Taou 
Kwang,  succeeded  his  father  in  1821,  and  is  now  sixty 
four  years  old. 

The  Great  Wall  of  China  was  constructed  by  Chi- 
hwang-te,  of  the  Tsin  dynasty,  the  first  universal  mon- 
arch of  China,  about  two  hundred  years  before  the 
commencement  of  the  Christian  era,  to  keep  the  Tar- 
tar hordes  from  invading  his  Empire. 

It  extends  from  the  Gulf  of  Pechele  in  a  westerly 


20  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     I. 

direction,  a  distance  of  more  than  fifteen  hundred  miles; 
descending  into  the  deepest  valleys,  and  ascending  the 
highest  mountains,  one  of  which  is  5,000  feet  above  the 
level  of  the  sea. 

At  important  passes  the  wall  is  doubled — it  varies  in 
height  according  to  the  nature  of  the  ground.  At  the 
point  where  Lord  Macartney  passed  it,  the  wall,  as  ex- 
amined by  Capt.  Parish,  was  found  to  be  a  mass  of 
earth  supported  on  each  side  by  walls  of  large  brick, 
with  a  stone  foundation,  and  terraced  with  a  platform 
of  square  brick. 

The  total  height  of  the  wall,  including  the  parapet  of 
five  feet,  was  20  feet — the  thickness  at  the  base  was  25 
feet,  diminishing  to  15  feet  at  the  platform.  It  is  flank- 
ed with  massive  towers  or  bastions,  about  100  yards 
apart,  which  are  forty  feet  square  at  the  base,  diminish- 
ing to  30  feet  at  the  top. 

In  building  this  immense  work,  the  greatest  probably 
ever  produced  by  human  labor,  and  surpassing  the  sum 
total  of  all  other  works  of  the  kind  now  in  existence, 
every  third  man  of  the  Empire  was  required  to  work  on 
it,  by  which  means  it  was  completed  in  five  years. 

So  heavy  a  tax  upon  the  industry  of  the  people,  and 
the  protection  afforded  by  it  against  the  Tartars,  until 
the  time  of  Ghengis  Kahn  in  the  thirteenth  century, 
who  then  overthrew  the  Chinese  Empire,  have  led  the 
Chinese  to  call  it,  "  The  ruin  of  one  generation  and 
the  salvation  of  thousands." 

The  other  great  work  of  China  is  the  Imperial  Canal, 
which,  like  the  great  wall,  stands  unrivalled,  in  point  of 
extent  and  magnitude  of  undertaking,  by  any  other 
work  of  the  kind  in  the  world.  Including  the  rivers  in 
its  course,  which  are  used  as  parts  of  it,  it  extends  from 
Ticn-tsing,  near  Peking,  to  Hang-tcheou-foo,  a  distance 
of  about  600  geographical  miles,  and  is  navigable  for 
the  largest  vessels ;    thus  rendering  the  internal  com- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      I.  21 

merce  of  the  Empire  almost  wholly  independent  of  coast 
navigation.  But  this  is  not  its  only  merit,  as  it  renders 
a  vast  tract  of  country,  which  would  otherwise  be  an 
irreclaimable  swamp,  capable  of  cultivation.  It  is 
called  by  the  Chinese,  "  Yun-ho,"  "  The  river  for  the 
transportation  of  grain,"  and  "  Cha-ho,"  "  The  river  of 
flood  gates."  It  was  principally  constructed  by  Koblai 
Khan  and  his  immediate  successors,  and  is  said  to  have 
employed  30,000  workmen  nearly  fifty  years. 

A  short  distance  from  Nanking  on  the  Yang-tsz- 
Keang,  rise  the  picturesque  and  precipitous  rocky  islets 
called  "The  Three  Hills  of  Kin-Kow"  individually 
called  "Kin-shan,"  "Golden  Island;"  Pih-koo-shan, 
and  Tseaou-shan.  On  the  latter  is  situated  one  of  the 
ancient  Imperial  Palaces.  The  island  rises  from  the 
river  with  considerable  abruptness,  and  is  enclosed  by 
mural  cliffs  which  deny  a  landing  except  at  the  place 
of  debarkation,  formed  for  the  purpose  of  communicat- 
ing with  the  Palace,  temples,  and  other  buildings  upon 
the  rock.  The  "  Yang-tsz-Keang"  or  "Child  of  the 
Ocean,"  as  this  noble  river  is  called,  is  one  of  the  larg- 
est rivers  in  the  world,  being  second  only  to  the  Ama- 
zon and  Mississippi. 


22  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     II 


CASE    II. 


No.  8.   The  Empress  of  China  seated  in  a  Dragon  Chair. 
9.  Lady  of  a  Mandarin  of  the  first  rank. 

10.  do.  do.         do.     second  rank. 

11.  do.  do,         do.     third      do. 

12.  do.  do.         do.    fourth    do. 

13.  Female  Servant,  with  pipe. 

Superbly  embroidered  satin  Screen  upon  the  wall. 

Two  Views;  one  of  a  Suite  of  Rooms  in  the  Pal- 
ace, and  the  other  of  part  of  the  Grounds,  at- 
tached. 


In  this  group,  the  Empress,  the  two  ladies  on  her  left, 
and  the  servant,  are  Tartars.  They,  unlike  the  others,  as 
the  observer  will  notice,  are  not  adorned  with  ■  Kin- 
leen,J  or  "  the  golden  lilies,"  as  the  Chinese  poetically  call 
the  small  feet,  from  the  supposed  resemblance  of  their 
impressions  to  the  leaves  of  their  favorite  lotus,  or  water 
lily.  This  perfection  of  beauty  is  confined  to  the  Chinese 
alone  ;  the  Emperor  having  had  the  good  sense  to  pro- 
hibit by  a  special  edict,  his  own  family,  as  well  as  all 
Tartars  from  following  the  Chinese  custom.  The  other 
two  ladies  are  Chinese;  who  are  distinguished  from  the 
Tartar  ladies  by  a  slight  difference  in  dress,  as  well  by 
their  small  feet;  the  costume  of  the  Tartar  females 
being  very  similar  to  the  males,  consisting  of  the  same 
cap  and  flowing  robe,  but  distinguished  by  peculiar 
shoes  and  the  graceful  sash,  while  the  dress  of  Chinese 
females  contains  another  under  dress,  and  sometimes 
two,  visible  below  the  robe,  which  is  not  so  long  as 
that  worn  by  Tartars.     The  first  article  is  a  confined 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     II.  23 

looking  garment,  made  of  heavy  plaits,  and  the  second, 
loose  trovvsers,  which  hang  down  so  as  nearly  to  con- 
ceal the  "  golden  lilies."  Their  head  dresses  also  dif- 
fer some  from  that  of  the  Tartars,  as  may  be  noticed. 
But  the  costumes  of  both  nations,  "  though  amongst 
the  higher  classes,  as  splendid  as  the  most  exquisite 
silks  and  embroidery  can  make  them,  are  always  ex- 
tremely modest;  and  what  we  choose  to  call  dress, 
they  would  regard  as  little  short  of  absolute  nudity, 
and  all  close  fitting  to  the  form  as  only  displaying  what 
it  affects  to  conceal." 

The  Tartar  maid,  in  this  case,  is  about  to  present  a 
pipe  to  the  Empress,  for  she  and  the  rest  of  her  sex  in- 
dulge in  this  luxury,  as  well  as  the  men,  the  pipe  being 
used  by  both  sexes  upon  all  occasions.  The  dress  of 
the  maid  is  the  same  in  fashion  as  that  of  her  more  for- 
tunate countrywomen,  though  of  course  not  as  splen- 
did. 

When  a  female  is  raised  to  the  rank  of  Empress,  the 
Emperor  announces  the  event  to  mother  earth,  to  his 
ancestors,  and  the  ancient  sages,  and  after  many  mi- 
nute observances,  she  is  invested  with  the  high  dignity 
of  the  mother  of  the  country.  But  notwithstanding 
she  is  the  consort  of  the  "Son  of  Heaven,"  her  sphere, 
like  that  of  the  rest  of  her  countrywomen,  is  very  lim- 
ited. The  palace  walls  and  gardens  of  the  Harem  are 
the  bounds  of  the  world  to  her,  as  well  as  to  the  Empe- 
ror's concubines,  who  arc  said  to  be  numerous,  and  the 
principal  part  of  her  time  is  passed  in  trivial  amuse- 
ments within  the  "pepper  chamber."*  She  is  not 
even  allowed  the  gratification  of  setting  the  fashions 
for  her  countrywomen;  for  the  style  of  her  own  dress 

*  "According  to  the  Kii  Sz'  King  Lain,"  says  Dr.  Bridgman,  "in  the  times 
of  the  Hon  dynasty,  the  walls  of  the  Harem  were  plastered  with  pepper,  from 
the  notion  that  its  pungent  properties  would  dispel  or  neutralize  all  noxious 
vapors  in  the  room.  From  this  practice,  the  phrase  is  now  used  to  denote  the 
apartments  of  the  Empress  in  the  palace." 


24  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     II. 

is  prescribed  by  the  Board  of  Rites  and  Ceremonies  at 
Peking,  who  are  the  only  setters  of  fashion  in  China, 
regulating  the  dress  of  all  those  connected  with  the 
government,  and  to  depart  materially  from  whose  ordi- 
nances would  be  a  dangerous  species  of  eccentricity. 

Once  a  year,  (about  November)  the  Empress  ac- 
companied by  her  principal  ladies,  sacrifices  at  the 
altar  of  the  inventor  of  the  silk  manufacture.  This  ap- 
pears to  be  the  only  state  ceremonial,  at  which  she  of- 
ficiates, and  when  it  is  concluded,  a  quantity  of  mul- 
berry leaves  are  collected  by  herself  and  ladies,  to 
nourish  the  imperial  depot  of  silk  worms.  The  pro- 
cesses of  heating  the  cocoons  in  water,  winding  oft' the 
filament,  and  some  others  are  gone  through  with  dur- 
ing the  ceremony,  which  is  intended  to  encourage  the 
people  in  the  cultivation  of  the  mulberry  and  rearing 
of  silk  worms  for  the  production  of  silk,  the  principal 
part  of  the  manufacture  of  which  devolves  upon  fe- 
males. 

It  is  only  when  the  Empress  becomes  Empress 
Mother,  that  much  honor  is  paid  her.  Then  the  Em- 
peror performs  his  daily  obeisance  before  her  accord- 
ing to  ancient  custom  and  at  certain  periods  of  her 
life,  as  at  fifty,  sixty,  seventy,  &c,  particular  honors 
are  paid  her;  especially  at  the  age  of  sixty,  which, 
being  the  completion  of  an  entire  cycle,  is  regarded  as 
the  greatest  occasion.  On  the  present  Emperor's 
mother  attaining  this  age,  his  imperial  majesty  issued  a 
proclamation  announcing  to  his  people  the  great  event 
and  the  observances  attendant  upon  it.  It  is  a  curious 
document,  and  the  translation  as  given  in  the  Chinese 
Repository,  is  as  follows  : 

"The  Emperor,  who  has  received  from  Heaven,  in 
the  revolving  course  of  nature,  his  dominion,  hereby 
publishes  a  solemn  ordinance. 

"  Our  extensive  dominions  have  enjoyed  the  utmost 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE      II.  25 

prosperity,  under  the  shelter  of  a  glorious  and  enduring 
state  of  felicity.  Our  exalted  race  has  become  most 
illustrious,  under  the  protection  of  that  honored  rela- 
tive to  whom  the  whole  court  looks  up.  To  her  hap- 
piness already  unalloyed,  the  highest  degree  of  felicity 
has  been  superadded,  causing  joy  and  gladness  to  ev- 
ery inmate  of  the  six  palaces.  The  grand  ceremonies 
of  the  occasion  shall  exceed  in  splendor  the  utmost  re- 
quirements of  the  ancients  in  regard  to  the  human  re- 
lations, calling  forth  the  gratulation  of  the  whole  Em- 
pire. It  is  indispensible  that  the  observances  of  the  oc- 
casion should  be  of  an  exceedingly  unusual  nature,  in 
order  that  our  reverence  for  our  august  parent  and 
care  for  her,  may  both  be  equally  and  gloriously  dis- 
played. 

"  Her  majesty,  the  great  Empress — benign  and  dig- 
nified, universally  beneficent,  perfectly  serene,  exten- 
sively benevolent,  composed  and  placid,  thoroughly 
virtuous,  tranquil  and  self-collected,  in  favors  unbound- 
ed, who  in  virtue  is  the  equal  of  the  exalted  and  expan- 
sive heavens,  and  in  goodness,  of  the  vast  and  solid 
earth — has,  within  her  perfumed  palaces,  aided  the 
renovating  endeavors  (of  his  late  majesty)  rendering 
the  seasons  ever  harmonious,  and  in  her  maternal  court 
has  afforded  a  bright  rule  of  government,  thoroughly 
disinterested.  She  has  planted  for  herself  a  glorious 
name  in  all  the  palace,  which  she  will  leave  to  her 
descendants ;  and  has  imparted  her  substantial  favors 
to  the  Empire,  making  her  tender  affection  universally 
conspicuous.  Hence  genial  influences  abide  within 
the  palace  of '  ever-during  delight,'  and  joy  and  gratu- 
lation meet  together  in  the  halls  of 'everlasting  spring.' 

"  In  the  first  month  of  the  present  winter  occurs  the 
sixtieth  anniversary  of  her  majesty's  sacred  natal  day. 
At  the  opening  of  the  happy  period,  the  sun  and  moon 
shed  their  united  genial  influences  on  it.     When  com- 


26  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      II. 

mencing  anew  the  sexagenary  cycle,  the  honor  thereof 
adds  increase  to  her  felicity.  Looking  upwards,  and 
beholding  her  glory,  we  repeat  our  gratulation,  and 
announce  the  event  to  Heaven,  to  earth,  to  our  ances- 
tors, and  to  the  patron  gods  of  the  Empire.  On  the 
nineteenth  day  of  the  tenth  moon,  in  the  fifteenth  year 
of  Taou  Kvvang,  we  will  conduct  the  princes,  the  nobles, 
and  all  the  high  officers,  both  civil  and  military,  into  the 
presence  of  the  great  Empress,  benign  and  dignified, 
universally  beneficent,  perfectly  serene,  extensively  be- 
nevolent, composed  and  placid,  thoroughly  virtuous, 
tranquil  and  self-collected,  in  favors  unbounded ;  and 
we  will  then  present  our  congratulations  on  the  glad 
occasion,  the  anniversary  of  her  natal  day.  The  occa- 
sion yields  a  happiness  equal  to  what  is  enjoyed  by 
goddesses  in  Heaven;  and  while  announcing  it  to  the 
gods,  and  to  our  people,  we  will  tender  to  her  blessings 
unbounded.  It  is  the  happy  recommencement  of  the 
glorious  revolution  of  the  cycle,  the  felicity  whereof  shall 
continue  long  as  the  reign  of  reason. 

"At  the  observance  of  this  solemn  occasion,  exceed- 
ingly great  and  special  favors  shall  be  shown  ;  the  par- 
ticulars of  which  and  of  the  ceremonies  to  be  observed 
are  hereinafter  enumerated. 

"  First.  To  the  tombs  of  the  successive  Emperors 
and  Kings,  to  the  temple  of  the  first  great  teacher,  Con- 
fucius, to  the  five  lofty  mountains,  and  to  the  four 
mighty  streams,  officers  shall  be  sent  to  offer  sacrifices. 
Let  the  rules  on  the  subject  be  examined  and  let  this  be 
carried  into  effect. 

"  Secondly.  All  ladies  of  elevated  rank  who  have 
attained  to  the  age  of  sixty  years  or  upwards,  from  the 
consorts  of  the  highest  princes  to  the  wives  of  the  lowest 
titular  members  of  the  imperial  family,  from  the  prin- 
cesses of  the  blood  to  the  daughters  of  the  subordinate 
princess,  from  the  consorts  of  the  Mongol  royal  chief- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      II.  27 

tains  to  the  wives  of  their  hereditary  nobles,  as  well  as 
the  ladies  of  the  great  officers  of  state  both  Mantchou 
and  Chinese,  shall  be  presented  with  tokens  of  favor. 

"  Thirdly.  Every  officer  in  the  metropolis,  both 
civil  and  military,  of  every  grade,  shall  be  raised  in 
rank  one  degree. 

"  Fourthly.  Every  officer,  whether  at  court  or  in 
the  provinces,  who  is  under  promise  of  promotion  to  a 
new  office,  shall  be  at  once  invested  with  the  rank  of 
such  new  office. 

"  Fifthly.  In  regard  to  every  officer  who  for  error 
in  public  matters  has  been  degraded  in  rank,  but  re- 
tained in  office,  let  the  appropriate  Board,  after  exami- 
nation, present  a  report,  requesting  that  his  rank  be 
restored  to  him. 

"  Sixthly.  Every  military  officer  of  brevet  rank  shall 
be  advanced  to  a  permanent  rank. 

"  Seventhly.  Every  soldier  of  the  eight  banners  in 
Peking  shall  receive  a  gift  of  one  month's  pay  and 
rations. 

"  Eighthly.  Every  Mantchou  soldier  who,  having 
formerly  borne  arms,  has  been  permitted,  on  account 
of  age  or  sickness,  to  live  at  home,  shall  receive  gra- 
cious tokens  of  favor. 

"  Ninthly.  All  soldiers  of  the  eight  banners,  Mant- 
chou, Chinese,  and  Mongols,  who  have  attained  the 
ages  of  seventy,  eighty,  or  ninety  years,  and  all  Mon- 
gols of  the  inner  tribes,  or  of  the  Kalkas,  who  have 
attained  those  ages,  shall  have  gifts  conferred  on  them, 
differing  in  relation  to  their  several  ages.  Those  who 
have  attained  the  age  of  an  hundred  years,  shall,  on 
presenting  a  statement  thereof,  receive  money  to  erect 
an  arch. 

"  Tenthly.  Every  one  among  the  military  and  peo- 
ple (of  China  Proper,)  who  has  attained  the  age  of 
seventy  shall  be  allowed  one  person  to  attend  on  him 


28  CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE      II. 

free  of  liability  to  conscription.  Every  one  who  has 
attained  the  age  of  eighty  shall  receive  (also)  one  piece 
of  silk,  ten  catties  of  cotton,  one  stone  weight  of  rice, 
and  ten  catties  of  flesh.  Every  one  who  has  attained 
the  age  of  ninety  or  of  a  hundred  years,  shall  receive 
money  for  the  erection  of  an  arch. 

"  Eleventhly.  Every  perfectly  filial  son  or  obedient 
grandson,  every  remarkably  upright  husband,  or  chaste 
wife,  upon  proofs  being  brought  forward  of  real  facts, 
shall  have  a  monument  erected  with  an  inscription,  in 
his  or  her  honor. 

"  Twelfthly.  Of  the  lower  classes  of  literary  gradu- 
ates, all  who  have  passed  good  examinations,  but  with- 
out attaining  degrees,  shall  be  presented  with  degrees. 

"  Thirteenthly.  The  students  of  the  national  college 
shall  have  a  vacation  of  one  month. 

"  Fourteenthly.  In  every  case  in  which  the  tombs  of 
the  successive  emperors  and  kings,  or  the  temples  of 
the  lofty  mountains  and  mighty  streams,  have  fallen 
into  decay,  let  requests  for  their  repair  be  sent  in. 

"  Fifteenthly.  Let  roads  and  bridges  that  are  in 
want  of  repair,  in  all  the  provinces,  be  repaired  by  the 
local  officers. 

"  In  this  manner  shall  her  majesty's  sanctity  and 
virtue  be  declared,  and  become  a  rule  and  an  example, 
the  praise  of  which  shall  be  like  the  sun  and  moon,  and 
shall  be  ever  increasing.  Her  kindness  shall  be  diffused 
abroad  and  extended  to  all ;  and  all  shall  rejoice  with 
the  joys  of  music  and  dancing.  Let  this  be  proclaimed 
to  the  whole  Empire,  that  all  may  be  made  to  hear  and 
know  it." 

Such  ornamental  pieces  of  embroidery  and  writing 
as  the  one  at  the  back  of  this  case  and  that  in  No.  1 , 
are  called  by  the  Chinese,  Shau-Ping,  literally  Lon- 
gevity Screens.  They  are  presented  to  persons  who 
have  attained  a  virtuous  old  age  and  are  not  intended 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      II.  29 

to  be  used  as  screens,  but  are  suspended  behind  the 
tablets,  upon  which  the  names  of  the  venerated  de- 
ceased are  inscribed,  in  the  Ancestral  halls.  This  one 
"  is  made  of  fine  red  satin,  14/4  feet  long,  by  9>4  feet 
broad,  and  is  covered  with  writing  and  embroidery,  the 
latter  in  gold  thread  and  floss  silk.  The  writing  occu- 
pies the  middle  of  the  sheet,  and  is  symmetrical  and 
elegant  in  the  extreme.  A  large  dragon's  head  adorns 
the  top,  beneath  which  are  three  sitting  figures,  emble- 
matic of  Longevity,  Happiness,  and  Official  Emolu- 
ment ;  and  on  each  side  are  four  standing  figures  rep- 
resenting the  eight  genii ;  various  devices,  as  tripods, 
vases,  &c,  are  interspersed  among  the  figures,  giving  to 
the  whole  a  pleasing  and  tasty  appearance."  There  are 
also  two  narrow  strips  hanging  down  from  the  top  upon 
which  the  following  seal  characters  are  embroidered, 
viz:  "  Shaow-peih-lam-shan."  "May  your  age  be  like 
the  southern  mountains."  The  translation  which  fol- 
lows, was  made  for  the  Chinese  Repository,  by  S. 
Wells  Williams,  Esq.,  one  of  the  conductors  and  pro- 
prietors of  that  valuable  magazine.  The  inscription  is 
in  form  of  a  letter. 

Note  upon  the  Longevity  Honor,  respectfully  pre- 
sented with  congratulations  to  her  ladyship,  Sun-nee 
Sie,  by  imperial  favor,  elevated  to  be  of  the  seventh 
rank  of  dignity  on  her  70th  birthday. 

11  In  the  year  1802, 1  was  in  command  of  the  land  and 
sea  forces  of  Fukien  province  ;  this  province  is  conter- 
minous with  Kwangtung.  The  village  Ching  belongs 
to  Kwangtung,  to  the  present  department  of  Kiaying, 
a  place  which  was  by  the  rectitude  of  the  scholar  Ching 
of  Nautse,  quite  renovated,  (and  named  after  him.) 
Although  I  was  in  retirement  (literally  a  gourd  hung 
up  to  dry,)  still  the  parents  of  the  people,  (i.  e.  the  au- 
thorities,) in  all  that  region  knew  me.  A  subordinate, 
then  under  the  magistrate  of  Kiaying-chau,  was  the 


30  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE    II. 

Taping  fansz',  now  the  assistant  chifu,  Sun  Siifang, 
who  governed  that  district ;  all  men  were  refreshed  by 
his  upright  rules,  nor  was  there  a  dissentient  voice. 
His  mother,  the  lady  Sie,  was  the  first  and  only  wife  of 
Sun  Siunche,  the  assistant  chifu  of  Lwan  chau,  and  he 
(her  son)  brought  her  from  Chekiang  into  his  office, 
and  assiduously  and  constantly  nourished  and  took  care 
of  her  with  respectful  attention. 

"  It  was  on  the  lady  Sun  attaining  the  anniversary 
day  of  her  7th  decennium,  that  all  the  gentry  wished 
to  imitate  the  custom  usual  on  such  occasions  of  pre- 
senting a  Longevity  Token,  and  requested  an  explana- 
tory notice  from  me,  and  also  that  I  would  direct  the 
libations;  at  the  same  time  sending  for  my  inspection 
two  longevity  discourses  made  when  lords  Sz',  the 
graduate,  and  lord  Han,  the  district  magistrate,  were 
sixty  years  old. 

"  It  appears  that  the  etiquette  in  ancient  times,  in 
making  offerings  on  birth  days,  was  not  to  do  it  always 
on  the  day  itself,  but  to  choose  a  convenient  time  ;  in 
Pin,  it  was  the  custom  to  observe  them  after  the  har- 
vest was  got  in  ;  and  in  the  Han  dynasty  it  was  on 
new  year's  day ;  at  present,  some  do  it  on  the  birthday, 
which  resembles  the  ancient  practice.  Now  my  own 
attainments  are  not  at  all  comparable  to  those  of  Lord 
Sz',  and  Prince  Han,  and  moreover  your  laydship's  do- 
mestic regulations  are  worthy  to  become  a  model  to  in- 
structed ;  may  your  happiness  and  age  daily  increase. 
Why  therefore  should  any  one  wait  for  my  echoing 
praise  of  such  a  reputation  ?  But  taking  a  point  which 
all  those  in  the  district  of  Kiaying  who  have  the  least 
acquaintance  with  the  matter  know,  viz.  that  Sun  Sii- 
fang and  his  brothers,  reverentially  receive  the  in- 
struction of  their  mother,  I  will  remark  upon  it.  The 
assistant  magistrate  (i.  e.  Sun  Siifang,)  has  thorough 
and  most  discriminating  talents  ;  for  although  his  juris- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      II.  31 

diction  is  over  only  a  small  corner  of  the  department, 
he  does  not  confine  his  efforts  to  his  own  limited  dis- 
trict, but  has  become  generally  distinguished  ;  he  has 
apprehended  villains  and  cleared  the  country  of  rob- 
bers ;  he  exhibits  his  kind  regards  for  the  villagers,  and 
consults  their  wishes ;  in  all  these  duties  exerting  him- 
self to  the  utmost.  Moreover,  when  he  at  any  time 
received  the  chief  magistrate's  order  to  attend  to  any 
special  business,  such  as  levying  fines,  arranging  schools, 
&c,  he  critically  discriminated  the  advantages  and  the 
disadvantages  in  everything,  displaying  the  utmost  equi- 
ty and  purity,  in  order  on  the  one  hand  to  requite  the 
confidence  reposed  in  him  by  the  superior  magistrate, 
and  on  the  other,  to  show  his  rectitude  to  all  the  inhab- 
itants. The  quiet  order  of  the  country  was  altogether 
owing  to  the  resolute  vigor  of  the  assistant  magistrate, 
extending  itself  over  and  benefitting  all  that  region,  while 
during  this  interval  of  several  years  his  integrity  was 
unimpeachable,  and  he  was  still  poor.  All  this  excel- 
lence was  owing  to  your  ladyship's  instructions,  through 
which  he  maintained  the  magisterial  uprightness  of  his 
ancestors,  and  perpetuated  the  honor  of  the  distinguish- 
ed officer  (his  father ;)  therefore,  when  men  praised 
the  bravery  of  the  assistant  magistrate,  there  was  not 
one  who  did  not  in  so  doing,  laud  the  virtue  of  his 
mother.  The  young  gentleman,  his  brother,  is  also 
now  about  to  receive  an  appointment  to  an  office  ;  and 
when  your  grandchildren  all  rise  up  (to  emulate  and 
succeed  their  parents,)  it  will  be  like  the  flight  of  the 
phoenix,  or  the  stateliness  of  the  stork  ;  your  joy  will  be 
complete. 

"  Your  ladyship's  nephew,  the  prefect  of  Tating  fu 
in  Kweichau,  a  place  beyond  the  far  reaching  clouds, 
you  have  also  through  the  past  instructed  in  the  prin- 
ciples of  justice;  if  you  thus  remember  those  who  are 
distant,  how  will  you  not  care  for  those  near  you  !     In 


32  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      II. 

ancient  times,  when  the  mother  of  Chang  Tsihien,  went 
to  the  palace,  his  majesty,  on  account  of  her  age  and 
her  happiness,  that  she  had  so  distinguished  a  son,  hon- 
ored her  with  a  complimentary  letter  from  his  own 
hand.  And  too,  the  Emperor  Jintsung  remarked,  when 
seeing  the  prudent  government  of  Tsai  Kiunnui,  "  If 
such  is  the  son,  what  must  the  mother's  virtue  be !" 
and  he  sent  her  a  coronet  and  a  ribbon  as  a  mark  of 
special  honor.  Your  ladyship  has  now  reached  the 
age  of  three  score  and  ten,  and  will  no  doubt  soon  re- 
ceive some  mark  of  imperial  regard  ;  so  that  then  the 
glory  of  those  two  matrons  will  not  be  alone,  for  yours 
will  equal  theirs;  and  if  the  assistant  magistrate  heartily 
regards  you,  and  diligently  upholds  the  integrity  of  his 
office,  we  shall  soon  see  him  rise  to  the  first  grade  of 
rank,  and  then  your  subsequent  glory  will  be  more  con- 
spicuous. 

"  The  benignant  favor  of  our  Emperor  diffuses  itself 
among  and  blesses  the  people  ;  and  peace  and  grandeur 
of  the  country  and  the  excellence  and  purity  of  the 
usages  are  preeminent ;  and  as  your  ladyship's  health 
is  vigorous,  and  your  sons  and  grandsons  are  fortunate, 
truly  your  joys  are  not  yet  full.  I  know  that  the  wishes 
of  the  people  and  gentry  of  the  district,  in  imitating  the 
custom  of  the  Pin  country  in  offering  the  libation  cup 
of  blessing,  and  in  performing  the  same  ceremony  of 
elevating  the  longevity  gifts  as  they  did  in  the  Han 
dynasty,  are  by  no  means  fully  satisfied,  although  these 
are  the  highest  of  rites  among  ceremonial  observances; 
and  therefore  this  which  I  have  written  may  be  regarded 
as  an  additional  cup  offered  up  on  their  behalf. 

"  Your  humble  brother,  Yen  Minghan,  by  imperial 
favor  a  military  graduate  of  the  first  rank,  appointed  to 
the  imperial  body  guard  in  his  majesty's  presence,  ap- 
pointed to  be  '  awe  inspiring  general,'  major-general 
in  command  of  the  forces  of  Fukien  province,  and  act- 


CHINESE  MUSEUM CASE  II 


33 


ing  admiral  of  the  navy  there  ;  formerly  general  of  the 
troops  in  the  two  departments  of  Changchau  and  Kien- 
ning  ;  in  1789  appointed  official  examiner  at  the  mili- 
tary examination  in  Fukien,  and  formerly  acting  general 
of  the  troops  in  Ninghia  fu  in  Kansuh,  during  the  war, 
raised  four  steps  and  recorded  ten  times,  respectfully 
bows  and  presents  his  compliments.  Kiaking,  7th  year, 
8th  moon,  20th  day,  (Oct.  1802.) 

"  The  names  and  titles  of  258  persons  are  appended, 
beginning  with  those  highest  in  office  and  descending 
to  the  lowest,  who  all  subscribed  to  purchase  and  pre- 
sent this  to  Madame  Suse." 

The  reader  will  note  in  the  introductory  part  of  the 
letter  that  this  old  lady  had  been  elevated  to  the  seventh 
rank  of  dignity.  This  mode  of  bestowing  nominal  rank 
is  a  great  inducement  to  parents  to  attend  to  the  edu- 
cation and  consequent  advancement  of  their  sons,  as 
not  only  the  fortunate  literary  candidates  themselves 
receive  honors,  but  their  parents  also,  who  if  dead,  have 
posthumous  titles  conferred  upon  them,  which  are  in- 
scribed upon  their  tablets,  preserved  in  the  Halls  of 
Ancestors,  and  used  in  the  ceremonies  attending  the 
sacrifices  to  their  manes. 


34  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     III. 


CASE    III. 

Mandarin  of  the  fourth  rank. 

Secretary. 

Interpreter. 

Inferior  Officer,  with  whip, 
do.         do.      do.    bamboo. 

Culprit  on  his  knees. 

Criminal  confined  in  a  tub. 

Painting  at  the  back  of  the  case.  Table  with  red  cloth 
in  front. 

Large  lacquered  "  Law  San"  or  "  State  Umbrella." 

Large  "  Eu-sheen,"  or  "  Imperial  Fan"  carried  in  pro- 
cessions to  screen  distinguished  persons  from  the  rays  of 
the  sun. 

Painted  wood  Banner,  carried  before  a  person  of  rank, 
with  his  name  and  titles  in  gilded  characters  upon  it. 

This  case  contains  a  representation  of  a  Chinese 
court  of  justice.  The  judge  is  seated  behind  his  table 
with  writing  implements  before  him,  two  metal  cases 
filled  with  sticks  are  at  one  end  of  the  table,  and  at  the 
other  a  case  done  up  in  yellow  grass  cloth,  contains  his 
official  seals,  while  the  small  roll  on  the  frame  above 
it,  also  enclosed  in  the  imperial  color,  contains  his  au- 
thority from  the  Emperor.  This  figure  is  an  excellent 
likeness  of  a  former  Kwang-chow-foo  of  Canton,  much 
beloved  by  the  people. 

On  the  right  of  the  officer,  stands  his  Secretary,  on 
the  left,  the  interpreter,  in  front,  on  one  side,  a  myrmi- 
don, with  whip  in  hand,  has  just  brought  in  a  prisoner, 
and  opposite,  stands  his  fellow  with  the  dreaded  (as 
well  as   admired)  bamboo  in  his  hands,  ready  to  dis- 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     III.  35 

pense  justice  with  it,  according  to  the  orders  of  his  su- 
perior. 

A  criminal,  already  sentenced,  is  expiating  his  of- 
fence in  a  tub,  his  head  and  hands  only  being  visible. 
In  the  rear  of  the  judge  is  a  painting  of  a  large  Chinese 
Unicorn,  a  tree  with  a  case  containing  the  seals  of  of- 
fice suspended  upon  one  of  the  branches,  and  a  bird 
descending  with  a  scroll  in  its  beak.  The  Chinese 
generally  do  not  appear  to  understand  the  meaning  of 
such  paintings  as  this,  which  are  suspended  behind 
their  officers  in  court  rooms.  But  they  would  seem  to 
be  emblematic  of  the  duty  of  the  officers  to  discharge 
their  trusts  faithfully,  in  order  to  obtain  promotion 
which  is  indicated  by  the  case  of  seals  suspended  above, 
and  the  scroll  containing  a  commission  in  the  mouth  of 
a  descending  bird. 

A  Chinese  court  room  is  never  graced  with  a  jury 
box  ;  the  representative  of  the  Emperor  is  both  judge 
and  jury.  "  The  plaintiff,  defendant,  and  witnesses, 
kneel  in  front  of  him,  with  the  instruments  of  torture 
placed  near  them.  No  counsel  is  allowed  to  plead,  but 
the  written  allegations  required,  must  be  prepared  by 
licensed  notaries,  who  may  also  read  them  in  court. 
These  notaries  buy  their  situations  and  repay  them- 
selves by  the  fees  upon  the  documents."  The  services 
of  an  interpreter  are  necessary  in  court,  as  a  medium 
of  conversation  between  the  judge  and  prisoners,  the 
laws  of  China  forbidding  persons  holding  office  in  their 
native  provinces,  or  even  owning  real  estate,  or  con- 
tracting marriage,  in  the  provinces  to  which  they  are 
appointed ;  and  notwithstanding  the  universal  use  of 
the  same  written  language  throughout  the  empire,  the 
dialects  of  the  different  provinces  vary  so  much  as  to 
make  the  natives  of  one  unintelligible  to  those  of 
another,  without  recourse  to  writing.  "  The  legal  mode 
of  torture,  in  forcing  evidence,  is  to  squeeze  the  ankles 
or  the  fingers  between  three  sticks,  tied  triangularly : 


36  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     III. 

the  former  being  applied  to  male,  and  the  latter  to 
female  prisoners.  Oaths  are  never  required,  nor  even 
admitted,  in  judicial  proceedings ;  but  very  severe  pun- 
ishments are  attached  to  falsehood  in  evidence." 

"  The  Chinese  have  some  singular  modes  of  demon- 
strating their  respect  and  regard  on  the  departure  of 
any  public  magistrate,  whose  government  has  been 
marked  by  moderation  and  justice.  A  deputation  some- 
times waits  upon  him  with  a  habit  composed  of  every 
variety  of  color,  "  a  coat  of  many  colors,"  as  if  made 
by  a  general  contribution  from  the  people.  With  this 
he  is  solemnly  invested,  and  though  of  course  the  gar- 
ment is  not  intended  to  be  worn,  it  is  preserved  as  an 
honorable  relic  in  the  family.  On  quitting  the  district, 
he  is  accompanied  by  crowds  that  follow  his  chair,  or 
kneel  by  the  wayside,  while  at  intervals  on  the  road  are 
placed  tables  of  provisions  and  sticks  of  incense  burn- 
ing. These  honors  were  shown  to  a  late  Fooyuen  of 
Canton,  a  man  of  a  most  eccentric,  but  upright  char- 
acter, who  unlike  so  many  others  in  his  situation, 
would  never  take  anything  from  the  Hong  merchants, 
or  others  under  his  authority.  He  seemed  to  have  a 
supreme  indifference  for  human  grandeur,  and  at  length 
retired  by  his  own  choice  and  the  Emperor's  permission 
into  private  life,  from  whence  it  is  said  he  became  a 
devotee  of  Budh.  On  his  quitting  Canton,  "  numerous 
addresses  were  presented  to  him,  indicating  a  desire,  as 
expressed  in  the  figurative  and  poetical  language  of  the 
Chinese,  '  to  detain  his  boots,'  in  order  to  prevent  his 
setting  out  on  his  journey ;"  and  this  singular  custom 
was  observed,  in  conformity  with  ancient  usage  on  such 
rare  occasions;  when  he  had  accepted  the  various 
demostrations  of  homage  and  respect  from  those  who 
had  been  deputed  by  the  people  to  wait  on  him,  he 
proceeded  from  his  residence  to  the  city  gates,  and, 
being  there  arrived,  his  boots  were  taken  oil',  to  be 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     III.  37 

preserved,  as  valued  relics,  while  their  place  was  sup- 
plied by  a  new  pair.  This  was  repeated  more  than 
once  as  he  proceeded  on  his  way,  the  boots  which  he 
had  only  once  drawn  on  being  regarded  as  precious 
memorials." 

Punishments  in  China  are  of  five  kinds,  each  gradu- 
ated according  to  the  heinousness  of  the  offence.  The 
first  is  flogging  with  the  bamboo,  which  is  of  two  sizes 
and  the  dimensions  of  each  regulated  by  law.  The 
smallest  is  used  for  petty  offences,  requiring,  according 
to  law,  from  ten  to  fifty  blows,  which  to  suit  the  Chinese 
maxim,  "  that  in  enacting  laws  rigor  is  necessary  and 
enforcing  them  leniency,"  are  reduced  in  practice  to 
from  four  to  twenty,  the  reduction  being  placed  to  the 
credit  of  the  Emperor  and  called  imperial  favor.  So 
summary  is  the  application  of  the  bamboo,  that  instances 
often  occur  of  an  offender  receiving  punishment  and 
going  free  within  the  hour  the  offence  was  committed. 
The  number  of  blows  with  the  larger  bamboo  is  limited 
from  sixty  to  one  hundred  by  law,  but  is  reduced  in 
practice  to  from  twenty  to  forty.  Tartars  are  subjected 
to  the  whip,  which  is  not  considered  as  disgraceful  as 
the  bamboo.  The  tallies  or  slips  of  wood  in  the  metal 
cases  in  front  of  the  magistrate,  in  this  case,  are  used 
to  indicate  the  number  of  blows  to  be  given  to  the  cul- 
prit, and  when  thrown  upon  the  floor  by  the  magistrate, 
are  taken  up  by  the  attendant  and  four  blows  in  reality 
given  for  each,  although  nominally,  they  signify  more. 

The  second  class  of  punishment,  is  the  Cangue,  or 
wooden  collar,  worn  from  one  month  to  three,  and 
varying  in  weight  according  to  the  heinousness  of  the 
crime.  It  is  a  plank,  sufficiently  large  to  hinder  the 
criminal  from  reaching  his  head,  if  his  hands  are  not 
confined,  with  holes  to  fit  the  neck  and  wrists,  and  on 
it  the  offence  is  inscribed.  The  tub  in  this  case,  with 
a  man  in  it,  is  a  species  of  Cangue  of  an  uncomfortable 


33  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     III. 

kind,  as  it  prevents  the  free  motion  of  different  parts  of 
the  body.  The  Cangue  is  often  a  fatal  punishment, 
and  the  foreigners  at  Canton  were  shocked  with  a  hor- 
rid exibition  of  it  in  the  fall  of  1843.  Some  wretches 
taken  in  the  act  of  setting  fire  to  buildings  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  the  foreign  factories,  which  it  was  their  in- 
tention to  destroy,  were  put  in  pairs  in  large  double 
Cangues  and  were  thus  exposed,  in  several  of  the  great- 
est thoroughfares  near  the  factories  to  the  gaze  of  passers 
by,  to  be  starved  to  death.  To  add  to  their  sufferings 
they  were  placed  within  smell  of  the  savory  steams 
arising  from  numerous  travelling  cooking  establishments 
in  their  vicinity.  Their  own  countrymen  made  no 
offers  of  assistance  to  them,  and  the  efforts  of  some 
benevolent  foreigners  to  supply  them  with  food  were 
resisted  by  the  underlings,  having  the  prisoners  in 
charge,  who  remarked  that  it  would  only  prolong  their 
sufferings.  In  this  way  they  perished,  one  by  one,  and 
several  were  seen  with  their  eyes  fixed,  in  the  vacant 
stare  of  death,  and  decay  stealing  rapidly  over  their 
bodies,  while  a  stronger  fellow  prisoner  fastened  to  them 
was  still  lingering  out  a  loathsome  existence.  In  this 
manner  the  dead  remained  in  the  Cangue  until  night- 
fall, when  they  were  inspected  by  a  Mandarin  and  re- 
moved for  interment. 

The  third  class  of  punishment  is  transportation  of  the 
offender  to  various  distances,  not  exceeding  fifty  leagues, 
and  for  different  lengths  of  time,  from  his  home,  accord- 
ing to  the  nature  of  the  offence.  There  is  also  a  scale 
of  punishment  with  the  bamboo,  corresponding  to  the 
distance  and  duration  of  temporary  banishment ;  for 
instance,  sixty  blows  correspond  to  a  year,  and  seventy, 
to  a  year  and  a  half,  advancing  thus  ten  blows  for  each 
half  year. 

The  fourth  class  of  punishment  is  exile  beyond  the 
Chinese  frontier,  temporarily,  or  for  life.     Criminals 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     III.  39 

are  often  banished  to  Ee-ly,  the  principal  seat  of  Chi- 
nese rule  in  Mongol  Tartary,  and  are  generally  con- 
demed  to  military  service,  or  made  slaves  to  the  Tar- 
tars. This  is  often  the  fate  of  the  highest  officers  of 
the  government  who  happen  to  displease  their  master, 
and  several  Hong  merchants  and  linguists  have  been 
sent  there  from  Canton,  but  those  having  wealthy  friends 
find  it  no  hard  matter  to  make  their  residence  in  "  the 
cold  country"  a  pleasant  one.  Transportation,  if  the 
criminal  is  a  Tartar,  is  in  some  instances  commuted  for 
the  Cangue,  to  which  a  scale  of  the  time  to  be  worn, 
graduated  to  different  distances,  is  adapted. 

The  three  capital  punishments,  constituting  the  fifth 
class,  are,  strangling,  beheading,  and  a  slow  and  igno- 
minious death,  sometimes  termed  cutting  into  ten  thou- 
sand pieces.  "  In  all  ordinary  cases,  the  executions 
throughout  the  Empire  are  postponed  until  the  autum- 
nal assize,  when  the  Emperor  confirms  the  sentences 
of  the  provincial  officers.  But  for  extraordinary  offen- 
ces, such  as  robbery  attended  with  murder,  arson,  rape, 
breaking  into  fortifications,  violence  by  banditti  of  one 
hundred  persons,  highway  robbery  and  piracy,  the 
offenders  may  be  beheaded  immediately."  Strangula- 
tion (in  Chinese  Keaou  '  the  silken  twist')  is  considered 
the  least  disgraceful  mode  of  execution,  as  by  it  the 
body  is  preserved  whole  for  interment ;  indeed  so  great 
is  the  solicitude  of  the  Chinese  on  this  point,  that  many 
preserve  the  broken  pieces  of  their  finger  nails,  which 
they  sometimes  allow  to  grow  to  such  inordinate  lengths, 
to  be  interred  with  them.  The  least  crime  for  which 
strangulation  is  assigned,  is  a  third  theft,  and  effacing 
the  brands  affixed  for  the  former  two.  It  is  inflicted 
upon  a  heavy,  upright  wooden  cross,  by  twisting  a  cord 
tight  around  the  ankles  and  staff,  then  the  waist,  the 
wrists,  and  lastly  the  neck.  Bribes  are  given  to  shorten 
the  sufferings  by  driving  a  poignard  to  the  heart  or 


40  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     III. 

twisting  the  cord  first  around  the  neck.  Pirates  and 
murderers,  in  addition  to  beheading,  have  their  heads 
exposed  in  small  cages,  suspended  on  poles,  in  public 
places.  Criminals  who  undergo  this  extreme  punish- 
ment are  conveyed  to  the  execution  ground  in  baskets, 
with  their  names  and  sentences  written  on  long  slips  of 
wood  attached  to  their  backs,  and  are  placed  upon  their 
knees,  facing  towards  the  imperial  court  at  Peking, 
with  heads  bowed,  in  token  of  submission ;  one  blow 
from  the  sword  of  the  executioner  and  the  head  is  sev- 
ered from  the  body,  and  the  immortal  spirit  sent  "  un- 
annointed  and  unannealed  "  into  the  presence  of  its 
Maker. 

Offences  against  the  Emperor  being  considered  the 
most  aggravated,  the  punishment  inflicted  is  the  most 
cruel  and  ignominious,  and  is  that  of  slowly  cutting  to 
pieces.  Parricide  ("  which  ranks  as  petit  treason,") 
sacrilege,  and  some  other  crimes,  are  punished  in  the 
same  way ;  but  in  the  first  instance  not  only  the  traitor 
(either  principal  or  accessary,)  but  his  innocent  family 
is  immolated  for  his  crime  ;  his  sons,  even  of  tender 
age,  are  strangled,  and  the  females  of  his  family  sold 
into  bondage  in  provinces  far  distant  from  their  home, 
and  the  law,  not  to  be  robbed  of  its  victims  even  by 
death,  drags  those  who  have  been  guilty  of  treason 
from  the  grave  and  inflicts  the  same  indignities  upon 
their  inanimate  and  oftentimes  putrid  bodies  that  it  de- 
manded while  in  life. 

One  curious  feature  in  Chinese  law  is,  that  substitutes 
are  allowed  even  for  criminals  condemned  to  decapita- 
tion, and,  incredible  as  it  may  appear,  men  are  to  be 
found  in  this  populous  country  to  suffer  under  the  hands 
of  the  executioner  in  the  place  of  another  for  a  small 
competency  for  their  families,  and  men  always  stand 
ready  at  the  courts,  the  skin  on  the  extremity  of  whose 
bodies  has  long  been  callous  to  the  bamboo,  to  become 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     III.  41 

substitutes  for  those  who  are  able  to  pay.  The  price 
formerly  charged,  wc  have  been  informed  by  a  native, 
was  one  dollar  a  blow,  but  competition,  it  appears,  has 
affected  this  business  as  well  as  others,  and  the  charge 
is  now  only  half  that  sum.  Our  informant  further  told 
us  that  he  had  seen  one  man  receive  in  succession, 
without  rising  from  his  position,  (face  downwards  upon 
the  ground,)  the  punishment  due  to  three. 

Chinese  prisons,  styled  by  them  Ty-yo,  or  hell,  are 
very  severe,  and  prolonged  imprisonments  in  them  are 
the  most  frequent  instruments  of  judicial  injustice. 
11  Women  in  ordinary  cases,  enjoy  the  fortunate  ex- 
emption of  being  placed,  as  criminals,  in  the  custody 
of  their  nearest  relations,  who  are  answerable  for  them, 
and  in  this  manner  they  escape  the  farther  contamina- 
tion of  vice  in  a  prison."  Mutual  responsibility  per- 
vades the  Empire  from  the  highest  to  the  lowest,  and 
serves  to  keep  the  ponderous  machinery  in  order.  Neigh- 
borhoods are  divided  into  tens  and  hundreds,  in  charge 
of  responsible  men  selected  from  amongst  them  ;  these 
report  to  the  inferior  Mandarins,  who  are  amenable  to 
the  superior  ones,  and  thus  the  scale  ascends  and  ends 
only  in  the  supreme  head,  the  Emperor.  To  such  ex- 
tent is  the  patriarchal  form  of  government  carried,  that 
"  fathers  have  virtually  the  powers  of  life  and  death 
over  their  children  ;  for,  even  if  they  kill  them  design- 
edly, they  are  subject  to  only  the  chastisement  of  the 
bamboo,  and  a  year's  banishment;  if  struck  by  them  to 
no  punishment  at  all.  The  penalty  for  striking  parents, 
or  for  cursing  them,  is  death,  as  among  the  Hebrews. 
In  practice,  it  does  not  appear  that  this  absolute  power 
bestowed  on  fathers  is  productive  of  evil  ;  the  natural 
feeling  being,  upon  the  whole,  a  sufficient  security 
against  its  abuse." 

Notwithstanding  the  severity  of  some  of  the  laws  of 
China,  Mr.   Ellis,  who  is  quoted  by  Davis  from  Sir 


42  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     III. 

George  Staunton,  as  one  "  whose  acquaintance  with 
Persia,  India  and  China,  rendered  him  a  peculiarly 
competent  judge,  pronounces  China  superior  to  the 
other  countries  of  Asia,  both  in  the  arts  of  government, 
and  the  general  aspect  of  society ;  and  adds  that  the 
laws  are  more  generally  known,  and  more  equally  ad- 
ministered ;  and  that  those  examples  of  oppression,  ac- 
companied with  the  infliction  of  barbarous  punishment, 
which  offend  the  eye  and  distress  the  feelings  of  the 
most  hurried  traveller  in  other  Asiatic  countries,  are 
scarcely  to  be  met  with  in  China,"  and  Davis  justly 
remarks,  "  that  a  country  cannot,  upon  the  whole,  be 
very  ill-governed,  whose  subjects  write  in  the  style  of 
Tien-kee-she"  a  Chinese,  as  follows ;  "  I  felicitate  my- 
self that  I  was  born  in  China;  it  constantly  occurs  to 
me,  what  if  I  had  been  born  beyond  the  sea,  in  some 
remote  part  of  the  earth,  where  the  cold  freezes,  or  the 
heat  scorches ;  where  the  people  are  clothed  with  the 
leaves  of  plants,  eat  wood,  dwell  in  the  wilderness,  lie 
in  holes  of  the  earth,  are  far  removed  from  the  convert- 
ing maxims  of  the  ancient  Kings,  and  are  ignorant  of 
the  domestic  relations.  Though  born  as  one  of  the 
generation  of  men,  I  should  not  have  been  different 
from  a  beast.  But  how  happily  1  have  been  born  in 
China  !  I  have  a  house  to  live  in,  have  drink  and  food, 
and  commodious  furniture.  1  have  clothing  and  caps, 
and  infinite  blessings.  Truly  the  highest  felicity  is 
mine." 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     IV.  43 


CASE    IV. 

Teacher  seated  at  his  table. 
Pupil  reciting  his  lesson. 
Priest  of  Fo  or  Budha  seated. 

do.   the  Taou  sect  standing. 
Paintings  of  Gods,  Sages  and  Worthies  suspended  at  the 

back  of  the  case. 
Chinese  Tomb. 

do.     Coffin. 
Mourning  Dress. 
Pair  of  Mourning  Lanterns. 

Here  are  to  be  seen  the  teachers  of  the  three  most 
prominent  religions  of  the  Chinese.  The  first  is  a  dis- 
ciple of  Koong-foo-tsze,  or  Confucius  (as  his  name  has 
been  latinized  by  the  Jesuits,)  who  is  worshiped  as  a 
god  in  China,  and  whose  system  of  ethics  is  the  favor- 
ite religion  of  the  better  classes  of  the  people  and  con- 
stitutes the  principal  part  of  their  education. 

The  young  lad  in  front  of  the  table,  is  reciting  his 
lesson  in  Chinese  fashion,  with  his  back  to  the  teacher. 
On  the  table  are  the  works  studied  by  young  persons, 
writing  apparatus,  and  the  rod,  that  universal  persua- 
der throughout  the  world,  and  most  direct  mode  of  ap- 
pealing to  the  feelings  of  the  young. 

The  Priest  of  Budha,  whose  tonsure  extends  to  the 
whole  head,  is  seated  in  his  chair,  with  a  rosary  in  one 
hand,  and  small  whisk  brush  in  the  other,  in  a  state  of 
mental  abstraction,  awaiting  his  absorption  into  nonen- 
tity, which  his  creed  teaches  him  is  the  summit  of  hap- 
piness; far  above  Heaven.     This  figure  is  an  excellent 


44  CHINESE      MUSEUM  CASE     IV. 

likeness  of  a  former  Abbot,  of  the  celebrated  Honam 
Jos  house,  who  was  much  venerated  by  the  Padries  of 
the  establishment. 

The  Priest  of  Taou,  or  Laou-keun  and  Laou-tsze  (the 
old  infant)  as  the  founder  of  this  sect  was  called,  be- 
cause born  with  white  hair,  differs  but  little  in  his  garb 
from  the  devotee  to  Budha,  he  has  the  same  rosary  and 
wisk  brush,  but  is  distinguished  from  him  by  his  queue, 
or  tail,  and  from  his  countrymen  in  the  manner  ot 
doing  up  this  curious  appendage,  with  a  skewer  and  in 
a  small  wooden  cup. 

The  brushes  in  the  hands  of  both  these  priests  are 
necessary  in  the  cells  of  the  temples,  where  they  re- 
side, which  arc  badly  ventilated,  and  in  summer  swarm 
with  musquitoes,  against  whose  insinuating  advances, 
not  even  Budhistic  absorption  is  proof. 

The  paintings  of  gods  on  the  wall  are  a  few  of  the 
immense  number  to  be  seen,  set  up  in  peculiar  frames, 
in  the  hongs  and  large  stores  in  the  cities.  The  paint- 
ings of  sages  and  worthies  are  of  a  style  much  esteemed 
by  the  Chinese. 

Confucianism  is  the  principal  or  State  religion  of 
China  and  that  patronized  by  those  who  make  any  pre- 
tensions to  learning.  The  stability  of  the  patriarchal 
form  of  government  in  China,  notwithstanding  the 
many  revolutions  which  have  taken  place,  is  undoubt- 
edly owing  to  the  strong  hold  which  the  moral  maxims 
of  the  sage  Koong-foo-tsze  has  upon  the  minds  of  the 
people.  His  system  of  eihics,  formed  several  centu- 
ries before  the  Christian  era,  are  rather  of  a  political 
than  religious  cast,  and  Dr.  Morrison  observes,  "  a 
family  is  the  prototype  of  his  nation  or  empire,  and  he 
lays  at  the  bottom  of  his  system,  not  the  visionary  no- 
tions of  independence  and  equality,  but  principles  of 
dependence  and  subordination,  as  of  children  to  pa- 
rents, the   younger   to  the  elder,  and  so  on.     These 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      IV.  45 

principles  are  perpetually  inculcated  in  the  Confucian 
writings,  as  well  as  embodied  in  solemn  ceremonials, 
and  in  apparently  trivial  forms  of  mere  etiquette.  It  is 
probably  this  feature  of  his  doctrines,  that  has  made 
him  such  a  favorite  with  all  the  governments  of  China 
for  many  centuries  past  and  down  to  this  day.  These 
principles  and  these  forms  are  early  instilled  into  young 
minds,  and  form  the  basis  of  their  moral  sentiments ; 
the  elucidation  and  enforcement  of  these  principles  and 
forms  are  the  business  of  students,  who  aspire  to  be 
magistrates,  or  statesmen,  and  of  the  wealthy,  who  de- 
sire nominal  rank  in  the  country;  and  it  is  in  all  likeli- 
hood, owing  chiefly  to  the  influence  of  these  princi- 
ples on  the  national  mind  and  conscience,  that  China 
holds  together  the  largest  associated  population  in  the 
world." 

It  is  striking,  to  witness  the  veneration  paid  to 
Koong-foo-tsze  at  the  present  day,  notwithstanding  a 
period  of  2,300  years  has  passed  away,  since  his  death. 
His  title  "  the  most  holy  teacher  of  ancient  times,"  was 
given  to  him  during  the  Ming  dynasty,  and  is  contin- 
ued by  the  Tartars,  who  now  sit  upon  the  throne. 
There  are  1,560  temples  in  the  empire,  dedicated  to 
his  memory,  and  the  government  annually  sacrifices  to 
his  manes,  6  bullocks,  27,000  pigs,  5,800  sheep,  2,800 
deer,  and  27,000  rabbits,  making  a  total  of  62,606  vic- 
tims, in  addition  to  which,  27,600  pieces  of  silk  are  of- 
fered at  the  same  time.  At  the  sacrifices  at  Peking, 
the  Emperor  himself  does  him  homage,  and  the  magis- 
trates and  all  the  learned  throughout  other  parts  of  the 
land ;  and  in  all  the  school  rooms  in  this  vast  empire, 
his  name,  inscribed  on  tablets,  is  hung  up,  to  which, 
the  scholars  pay  their  daily  respects  after  saluting  the 
teacher,  and  before  which,  they  burn  incense  morning 
and  evening.  Such  are  some  of  the  honors  paid  to 
this  ancient  sage,  who,  undoubtedly,  has  influenced   a 


46  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     IV. 

larger  portion  of  the  whole  human  race  than  any  other 
pagan  philosopher. 

Some  of  the  moral  maxims  and  advice  contained 
in  the  works  of  Koong-foo-tsze,  are  most  excellent. 
"  There  are  three  things,"  said  he,  "  to  beware  of 
through  life.  When  a  man  is  young,  let  him  beware 
of  his  appetites;  when  middle  aged,  of  his  passions; 
and,  when  old,  of  covetousness  especially."  And  upon 
being  asked  if  any  one  word  would  answer  as  a  guide 
for  a  person's  actions  during  life,  he  replied  "  will  not 
the  word  Shoo  serve  ?"  and  explained  its  meaning  by, 
"  do  unto  others  as  you  would  they  should  do  unto 
you."  He  said  little  about  a  future  state  of  existence, 
and  when  questioned  by  one  of  his  disciples  upon  the 
subject,  recalled  his  attention  to  material  things  by  re- 
plying, "  not  knowing  the  state  of  the  living,  how  can 
you  know  the  state  of  the  dead  ?"  and  his  universal 
maxim  was,  "  Respect  the  gods,  but  keep  them  at  a 
distance." 

Owing  to  the  number  who  annually  try  their  fortunes 
at  the  literary  examinations  and  fail  to  attain  degrees, 
teachers  are  plenty,  and  although  respected  according 
to  their  attainments,  their  pay  is  generally  small ;  not 
ordinarily  exceeding  ten  or  fifteen  dollars  per  month  in 
the  common  schools,  but  in  private  establishments  it  is 
much  more.  In  the  high  schools,  or  colleges,  the  num- 
ber of  pupils  sometimes  rises  to  hundreds  ;  in  the  com- 
mon schools  it  varies  from  ten  to  forty.  The  pupils 
assemble  at  sunrise  and  remain  till  ten  o'clock,  when  an 
hour  is  allowed  for  breakfast,  after  which  their  studies 
are  resumed  and  continue  till  four  or  five  o'clock  ;  they 
are  then  dismissed,  generally,  to  reassemble  at  early 
lamp-lighting  to  pore  over  their  books  again  until  nine 
o'clock.  The  master  occupies  an  elevated  seat  and 
the  boys  set  facing  him  at  separate  tables ;  there  are  no 
classes,  each  pupil    reciting   his  lesson  separately;  all 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IV.  47 

study  aloud  to  enable  the  master  to  discover  when  they 
are  engaged  with  their  lessons,  and  raising  their  voices 
to  a  high  key  make  a  noise  which  can  be  heard  in  the 
streets  for  some  distance.  "  Severity,"  observes  a 
writer  in  the  Chinese  Repository,  "  is  highly  esteemed 
by  parents,  who  seem  to  feel  only  that  their  boys  will 
not  receive  their  full  due ;  and  punishments  are  often 
and  severely  inflicted.  Neglect  in  arriving  punctually 
at  school,  or  in  acquiring  his  lesson  in  a  given  time, 
together  with  any  kind  of  misbehavior,  renders  the  pu- 
pil liable  to  punishment,  by  reproof,  chastisement,  or 
expulsion." 

Budhism,  which  took  its  rise  in  India  several  centuries 
prior  to  the  appearance  of  Koong-foo-tsze  and  Laou- 
Keun  in  China,  was  at  one  time  the  prevailing  religion 
of  that  country,  but  a  fierce  persecution  which  took 
place  during  the  sixth  century  of  our  era,  nearly  exter- 
minated or  expelled  its  followers  from  Hindostan.  It 
was  introduced  into  China  in  A.  D.  65  or  66,  during 
the  reign  of  Ming-ty,  an  Emperor  of  the  Han  dynasty, 
who,  says  Davis,  "  considering  a  certain  saying  of  Con- 
fucius to  be  prophetic  of  some  saint  to  be  discovered  in 
the  west,  sent  emissaries  to  seek  him  out.  On  reaching 
India  they  discovered  the  sect  of  the  Budhists,  and 
brought  back  some  of  them  with  their  idols  and  books 
to  China." 

The  Budhists  believe  in  a  future  state  of  existence 
and  in  the  metempsycosis  or  transmigration  of  souls  as 
a  reward  to  the  virtuous  and  punishment  to  the  guilty. 
The  paradise  of  Budha,  as  described  in  one  of  their 
works  quoted  by  Medhurst,  "  is  of  yellow  gold.  Its 
gardens  and  palaces  are  all  adorned  with  gems.  It  is 
encircled  with  rows  of  trees,  and  borders  of  network. 
There  are  lovely  birds  of  sparkling  plumage  and  ex- 
quisite notes.  The  great  God,  O-lo  nan,  the  goddess 
of  mercy,  the  unnumbered  Budhas,  the  host  of  demi- 


48  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     IV. 

gods,  and  the  sages  of  Heaven  and  earth,  will  all  be 
assembled  in  that  sacred  spot.  But  in  that  kingdom 
there  are  no  women,  for  the  women  who  will  live  in 
that  country  are  first  changed  into  men.  The  inhabit- 
ants are  produced  from  the  lotus  flower,  and  have  pure 
and  fragrant  bodies,  fair  and  well  formed  countenances, 
with  hearts  full  of  wisdom,  and  without  vexation.  They 
dress  not,  and  yet  are  not  cold;  they  dress,  and  are  not 
made  hot.  They  eat  not,  and  are  not  hungry ;  they 
eat,  and  yet  never  know  satiety.  They  are  without 
pain  and  sickness,  and  never  become  old.  Enjoying 
themselves  at  ease,  they  follow  Budha,  gaily  frisking 
about  without  trouble.  The  felicity  of  that  kingdom 
may  be  justly  considered  superlative,  and  the  age  of  its 
inhabitants  without  measure.  This  is  the  paradise  of 
the  west,  and  the  way  to  obtain  it,  is  the  most  simple 
imaginable  5  depending  on  one  sentence,  O-me-to-Fuh 
(Amidah  Budha;)  yet  the  world  will  not  take  the  trouble 
to  seek  this  good  so  easily  attained  ;  but  put  on  their 
iron  boots,  and  go  in  quest  of  another  road."  Such  is 
the  Heaven  of  Budha,  and  such  the  way  to  obtain  it. 
But  if  their  paradise  is  an  inviting  one,  their  hell  is  the 
abode  of  unspeakable  misery;  for  the  unfortunate  beings 
who  are  condemned  to  the  infernal  regions  are  there 
torn  in  pieces,  thrown  upon  hills  of  knives  or  into  boil- 
ing cauldrons,  sawn  asunder,  fastened  to  pillars  of  red 
hot  brass,  and  otherwise  tormented  according  to  their 
crimes,  until  transformed  into  some  of  the  six  grades  of 
metempsycosis  again  revisit  the  earth  to  do  penance. 
"  One  of  the  most  favorite  doctrines  of  Budha  is, 
that  all  things  originated  in  nothing,  and  will  revert  to 
nothing  again.  Hence  annihilation  is  the  summit  of 
bliss ;  and  nirupan,  nirvana,  or  nonentity,  the  grand 
and  ultimate  anticipation  of  all.  Contemplation  and 
abstractness  of  mind,  with  a  gradual  obliteration  of 
all  sense  and  feeling,  are  considered  the   nearest  ap- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     IV.  49 

proaches  to  bliss,  attainable  on  earth ;  and  the  devotees 
of  this  system  aim  and  effect  to  have  no  joys  or  sor- 
rows, hopes  or  fears,  sense  or  emotion,  either  of  body 
or  mind;  living  without  looking,  speaking,  hearing, 
smelling,  or  feeling;  yea,  without  eating,  and  without 
breathing,  until  they  approach  to  that  enviable  state  of 
perfection,  annihilation.  Budha  is  nothing,  and  to  es- 
cape the  various  transmigrations,  to  rise  above  the  hap- 
piness of  Heaven,  and  to  be  absorbed  into  Budha,  is  to 
be  amalgamated  into  nothing.  Those  who  have  at- 
tained  the  greatest  nearness  to  this  abstraction,  are  con- 
sidered the  most  holy ;  and  if  they  can  manage  to  sus- 
tain life,  without  appearing  to  live,  they  are  denomi- 
nated present  Budhas,  and  worshipped  accordingly. 
The  world-renouncing  priest,  with  vacant  stare  and 
emaciated  look,  not  deigning  to  regard  anything  in 
Heaven  or  on  earth,  receives  divine  honors  from  the 
wondering  bystanders,  who  think  him  something  more 
than  mortal,  because  fast  approaching  to  nonentity." 

Budhism  appears  to  be  the  most  popular  religion 
of  the  middle  and  lower  classes,  by  whom  it  is  chiefly 
supported.  Its  priests  are  principally  from  the  latter, 
and  are  sometimes  fugitives  from  justice,  who,  to  es- 
cape the  sword  of  the  executioner,  shave  their  heads, 
disguise  themselves  in  the  garb  of  priests,  and  retiring 
to  the  cells  attached  to  the  Budhist  temples,  elude  the 
search  of  the  Mandarins.  But  their  ranks  are  princi- 
pally filled  with  young  men  who  grow  up  among  them, 
being  placed  in  the  temples  in  childhood  by  their  pa- 
rents, who  consult  a  fortune  teller  upon  the  birth  of  a 
son,  to  ascertain  his  destiny,  and  being  informed  by  one 
of  these  oracles,  that  unless  consecrated  to  Budha  the 
child  will  die  young,  consider  it  useless  to  contend 
against  fate,  and  act  accordingly.  Brought  up  in  idle- 
ness, without  any  incentive  to  exertion,  they  live  prin- 
cipally  by  begging,   their  knowledge  seldom  extends 


50  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IV. 

beyond  reading  their  prayers  without  understanding 
them,  and  many  of  those  who  can  afford  it  are  opium 
smokers. 

Many  of  the  ceremonies  of  the  Budhist  religion  are 
similar  to  those  of  the  Roman  Catholics,  as  was  noticed 
by  the  early  Jesuits,  who  visited  China  to  convert  her 
to  Christianity.  They  shave  the  head,  practice  celib- 
acy, profess  poverty,  and  live  in  secluded  abodes ;  they 
use  the  rosary,  candles,  incense,  holy  water,  bells,  im- 
ages and  relics,  in  their  worship ;  they  believe  in  pur- 
gatory, with  the  possibility  of  praying  souls  out  of  its 
fires,  their  prayers  are  offered  up  in  a  strange  language, 
their  altar  pieces  are  similar ;  and  the  very  titles  of 
their  intercessors,  such  as  '  goddess  of  mercy,'  '  holy 
mother,'  and  '  queen  of  Heaven,'  with  the  image  of  a 
virgin,  having  a  child  in  her  arms,  holding  a  cross,  are 
the  same. 

This  religion  has  at  times  been  encouraged,  and  at 
others,  its  devotees  have  been  persecuted  by  the  gov- 
ernment. At  present,  it  appears  to  be  left  to  its  own 
resources  by  those  in  authority,  except  in  Thibet,  where 
the  Emperor  finds  it  politic  in  governing  the  Tartar 
hordes  to  respect  the  religion  of  the  Lamas,  which  if 
not  Budhism,  is  closely  allied  to  it. 

The  religion  of  Taou,  or  sect  of  Rationalists  was 
founded  by  Laou-kean,  or  Laou-tsze  a  contemporary  of 
Confucius,  but  the  Taou  or  Reason  itself,  is  said  to  be 
uncreated  and  to  have  existed  from  eternity,  and  its 
founder  to  have  been  an  incarnation  of  it.  The  doc- 
tors of  Eternal  Reason  speak  of  and  explain  it  in  a 
truly  transcendental  strain.     They  say — 

"  What  is  there  superior  to  heaven,  and  from  which 
heaven  and  earth  sprang  ?  nay,  what  is  there  superior 
to  space  and  which  moves  in  space  ?  The  great  Taou 
is  the  parent  of  space,  and  space  is  the  parent  of  heaven 
and  earth ;  and  heaven  and  earth  produced  men  and 
things. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IV.  51 

"The  venerable  prince  (Taou)  arose  prior  to  the 
great  original,  standing  at  the  commencement  of  the 
mighty  wonderful,  and  floating  in  the  ocean  of  deep 
obscurity.  He  is  spontaneous  and  self-existing,  pro- 
duced before  the  beginning  of  emptiness,  commencing 
prior  to  uncaused  existences,  pervading  all  heaven  and 
earth,  whose  beginning  and  end  no  years  can  circum- 
scribe. 

"  Before  heaven  and  earth  were  divided,  ere  the  great 
principles  of  nature  were  distinguished,  amid  the  ocean 
of  vast  obscurity  and  universal  stillness,  there  was  a 
spontaneous  concretion,  out  of  which  came  a  thousand 
million  particles  of  primary  matter,  which  produced 
'  emptiness.'  Then,  after  nine  hundred  and  ninety- 
nine  billions  of  Kalpas*  had  passed  away,  the  thousand 
million  particles  of  primary  matter  again  concreted, 
and  produced  '  space  :'  after  another  period  of  equal 
length,  the  particles  of  primary  matter  again  concreted, 
and  produced  '  chaos.'  After  chaos  was  settled,  heaven 
and  earth  divided,  and  human  beings  were  born." 

"  The  votaries  of  this  sect  talk  a  great  deal  about 
virtue,  and  profess  to  promote  it  by  abstraction  from 
the  world,  and  the  repression  of  desire.  They  affect 
to  despise  wealth,  fame  and  posterity ;  urging,  that  at 
death  all  these  distinctions  and  advantages  terminate, 
and  the  labor  bestowed  upon  them  is  thrown  away." 

According  to  their  principles,  as  expressed  in  the 
story  of  Chuang-tsze,  the  principal  disciple  of  Laou- 
keun,  "  riches,  and  the  advantages  which  they  bring, 
are  but  a  short  and  agreeable  dream  ;  honors  and  rep- 
utation resemble  a  brilliant  cloud,  which  soon  vanishes. 
The  affection  of  those  united  by  blood  and  other  ties  is 
commonly  but  a  vain  appearance  ;  the  most  tender 
friendships  may  convert  themselves  into  the  bitterest 
strifes.  Let  us  not  wear  a  yoke  because  it  is  of  gold  ; 
nor  bear  the  burden  of  chains  because  they  consist  of 

*  A  Kalpa  is  a  Hindoo  term  for  time  denoting  about  one  thousand  ages. 


52  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IV. 

jewels.  Let  us  purify  our  minds,  moderate  our  desires, 
and  detach  ourselves  from  worldly  affection ;  let  us 
above  all  things  preserve  ourselves  in  a  state  of  liberty 
and  joy,  which  is  independent  of  others." 

Much  of  their  attention  is  taken  up  with  the  study  of 
Alchymy ;  and  they  fancy  that  by  the  transmutation  of 
metals,  and  the  combination  of  various  elements,  they 
can  produce  the  philosopher's  stone,  and  the  elixir  of 
immortality.  Some  of  them  affect  to  have  discovered 
an  antidote  against  death ;  and  when  the  powerful  in- 
gredients of  this  angelic  potion  sometimes  produce  the 
very  effect  which  they  wish  to  avoid,  they  say  that  the 
victims  of  their  experiments  are  only  gone  to  ramble 
among  the  genii,  and  enjoy  that  immortality  above, 
which  is  not  to  be  found  below.  Several  of  the  Chinese 
Emperors,  deceived  by  the  fair  promises  of  some  of 
these  alchymists,  have  taken  the  draught,  and  paid  the 
penalty.  One  of  them,  having  procured  the  elixir  at  an 
immense  expense,  ordered  it  to  be  brought  before  him ; 
when  one  of  his  officers  courageously  drank  off  the 
full  contents  of  the  cup,  in  its  way  from  the  com- 
pounder to  the  throne ;  the  enraged  autocrat  ordered 
the  offender  to  be  put  to  death ;  but  he  coolly  replied, 
that  all  their  efforts  to  terminate  his  existence  would  be 
vain;  as,  having  drunk  the  elixir,  his  immortality  was 
secure,  or,  the  whole  system  was  founded  in  error. 
This  opened  the  Emperor's  eyes,  the  minister  was  par- 
doned, and  the  pretender  driven  from  court. 

The  followers  of  Taou,  like  the  Anthenians  of  old,  are 
"  in  all  things  too  superstitious,"  while  the  Confucians 
have  scarcely  determined  whether  spirits  exist  or  not, 
the  advocates  of  eternal  reason  profess  to  have  constant 
intercourse  with,  and  control  over  the  demons  of  the 
invisible  world.  Chang-Teen-sze,  the  principal  of  the 
Taeu  sect,  in  China,  who,  like  the  Lama  of  Thibet,  is 
supposed  to  be  immortal,  or  rather  whose  place  is  sup- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      IV.  53 

plied  by  a  successor  as  soon  as  the  old  one  dies,  as- 
sumes an  authority  over  Hades.  He  appoints  and  re- 
moves the  deities  of  various  districts,  just  as  the  Em- 
peror does  his  officers ;  and  no  tutelary  divinity  can  be 
worshipped,  or  is  supposed  capable  of  protecting  his 
votaries,  until  the  warrant  goes  forth  under  the  hand 
and  seal  of  this  demon  ruler,  authorising  him  to  exer- 
cise his  functions  in  a  given  region. 

From  the  power  which  this  individual  is  supposed  to 
possess,  his  handwriting  is  considered  efficacious  in  ex- 
pelling all  noxious  influences;  and  charms  written  by 
him  are  sold  at  a  high  price  to  those  afraid  of  ghostly 
visits  or  unlucky  accidents.  In  the  absence  of  these 
autographs  from  the  prince  of  the  devils,  each  priest  of 
Taou  issues  amulets,  and  large  sums  of  money  are 
realized  by  the  disposal  of  small  scraps  of  yellow  paper, 
with  enigmatical  characters  upon  them.  Having  in- 
duced the  belief,  that  this  year's  imps  are  not  to  be 
terrified  by  last  year's  charms,  they  are  particularly 
busy  every  new  year,  in  writing  out  fresh  amulets  for 
the  people  ;  who  would  not  rest  securely  in  their  hab- 
itations, unless  fully  assured  that  the  devil  was  kept 
away  by  these  infallible  preventatives. 

Death  is  with  them  peculiarly  unclean  ;  and  when- 
ever it  occurs,  brings  a  number  of  evil  influences  into 
the  dwelling,  which  are  only  to  be  expelled  by  the  sac- 
rifices and  prayers  of  the  priest  of  Taou.  This  is  what 
they  call  cleansing  the  house ;  and,  as  it  is  attended 
with  some  expense,  many  prefer  turning  lodgers  and 
strangers  in  dying  circumstances,  out  of  doors,  rather 
than  have  the  house  haunted  with  ghosts  for  years 
afterwards. 

As  it  is  necessary  to  purify  houses,  so  it  is  important 
to  preserve  districts  from  contagion ;  and  with  this 
view  public  sacrifices  are  offered,  to  which  the  inhabit- 
ants generally  subscribe.     One  of  these  solemnities  is 


54  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IV. 

celebrated  on  the  third  day  of  the  third  moon,  when  the 
votaries  of  Taou  go  barefoot  over  ignited  charcoal,  by 
which  they  fancy  that  they  triumph  over  the  demons 
they  dread,  and  please  the  gods  they  adore.  On  the 
anniversary  of  the  birth  of  the  "  high  emperor  of  the 
sombre  heavens,"  they  assemble  together  before  the 
temple  of  this  imaginary  being,  and  having  made  a 
great  fire,  about  fifteen  or  twenty  feet  in  diameter,  they 
go  over  it  barefoot,  preceded  by  the  priests  and  bearing 
the  goods  in  their  arms.  The  previous  ceremonies  con- 
sist of  the  chanting  of  prayers,  the  ringing  of  bells,  the 
sprinkling  of  holy  water,  the  blowing  of  horns,  and  the 
brandishing  of  swords,  with  which  they  strike  the  fire 
in  order  to  subdue  the  demon,  and  then  dash  through 
the  devouring  element.  Much  earnestness  is  manifest- 
ed by  those  who  officiate  on  these  occasions ;  and  they 
firmly  believe,  that  if  they  possess  a  sincere  mind,  they 
will  not  be  injured  by  the  fire:  but  alas !  their  hearts 
must  be  very  bad,  as  both  priests  and  people  get  miser- 
ably burnt  on  these  occasions. 

The  Taou  sect  worship  a  variety  of  idols,  some  of 
which  are  imaginary  incarnations  of  eternal  reason  ; 
and  others  rulers  of  the  invisible  world,  or  presiding 
divinities  of  various  districts.  Among  the  rest  are  "  the 
three  pure  ones,"  who  are  first  in  dignity ;  the  "  pearly 
emperor  and  supreme  ruler,"  the  "  most  honorable  in 
Heaven ;  the  god  of  the  north,  the  god  of  fire,  with 
lares,  and  penates,  genii  and  inferior  divinities  without 
number."*  This  is  by  far  the  least  popular  of  the  three 
principal  religions. 

In  addition  to  the  denominations  already  mentioned, 
there  are  also  Jews,  Mohamedans  and  Christians,  in 
China.  The  former  have  a  synagogue  at  Kae-fang-foo, 
the  capital  of  the  province  of  Honan,  and  are  said  to 
have  entered  the  country  200  years  before  Christ,  of 

Medhurst. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IV.  55 

whom,  when  visited  by  Pere  Gozani  in  1707,  they  were 
ignorant.  They  are  called  by  the  Chinese  Tiao-Kin- 
Kiao  (the  sect  that  extracts  the  sinew.) 

The  Mahomedans  are  a  more  numerous  sect.  They 
first  entered  China  during  the  seventh  century,  and  are 
now  to  be  met  with  in  all  parts  of  the  country,  where 
they  enjoy  the  same  privileges  as  the  rest  of  the  Empe- 
ror's subjects,  and  are  fully  admitted  to  government 
offices.  They  are  said  to  number  as  many  as  3,000  in 
the  city  of  Canton,  where  they  have  a  Mosque,  which 
with  its  lofty  pagoda,  or  minaret,  is  a  conspicuous  ob- 
ject in  a  view  of  the  city  from  the  river.  Unlike  their 
Chinese  brethren  they  disclaim  idolatry. 

Christianity,  according  to  the  researches  of  the 
learned,  was  early  introduced  into  China ;  and  Asse- 
mannus  affirms  that  Thomas,  the  apostle,  having  done 
much  for  the  establishment  of  the  Christian  faith  in 
India  passed  over  to  a  country  on  the  east,  called 
China,  where  he  preached  the  Gospel,  and  founded  a 
church  in  the  city  of  Cambulu  (Peking :)  after  which 
he  returned  to  Malabar. 

The  next  intimation  of  the  introduction  of  Christian- 
ity into  China,  is  given  in  the  famous  marble  tablet, 
which  was  dug  up  at  Se-gnan-foo  in  the  year  1625. 
The  inscription,  in  Chinese  and  Syriac,  describes  the 
principal  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  and  commences  by 
stating  the  existence  of  the  living  and  true  God,  the 
creation  of  the  world,  the  fall  of  man,  and  the  mission 
of  Jesus  Christ.  It  further  states,  that  in  A.  D.  636,  a 
Nestorian  Christian  teacher  came  from  Ta-tsin,  (the 
Chinese  name  for  Arabia  and  India)  to  China ;  and 
that  the  Emperor,  after  examining  his  doctrines,  author- 
ized the  preaching  of  Christianity  among  the  people. 
A  fac  simile  of  this  tablet  is  to  be  seen  in  the  library  of 
the  Vatican  at  Rome. 

The  Nestorians,  according  to  Moshiem,  penetrated 


56  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     IV. 

into  China  about  the  end  of  the  seventh  century,  and 
established  several  churches.  In  the  time  of  Genghis- 
Khan,  they  were  scattered  over  Tartary  where  they 
nourished  till  the  beginning  of  the  fifteenth  century, 
when  they  were  probably  nearly  exterminated  by  the 
celebrated  Tartar  conquerer,  Timur  or  Tamerlane,  a 
staunch  Mahomedan  and  sworn  enemy  to  all  Infidels, 
whose  head  was  adorned  with  twenty-seven  crowns,  the 
spoils  of  conquered  kings ;  and  who  aspired  to  the  do- 
minion of  the  world. 

The  Roman  Catholics  first  entered  China  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  thirteenth  century,  and  during  the  next  hun- 
dred years  had  a  fine  opportunity  of  propagating  their 
religion,  but  quarrelling  with  the  Nestorians,  it  is  sup- 
posed they  made  but  few  converts,  and  were  persecuted 
and  expelled  in  common  with  the  latter  by  the  Mahom- 
edans. 

The  empire  appears  to  have  been  neglected  by  the 
Christian  world,  from  this  period  until  the  middle  of 
the  sixteenth  century,  when  the  Jesuits  first  made  their 
appearance.  Our  limits  will  not  admit  of  a  detailed 
history  of  their  success.  From  that  period  to  the  pres- 
ent they  have  at  times  been  in  high  favor  at  court, 
counting  their  converts  by  hundreds  of  thousands,  some 
of  them,  the  powerful  of  the  land,  and  even  members  of 
the  imperial  family,  and  at  others,  they  have  been  per- 
secuted unto  death.  These  persecutions  were  brought 
upon  them  in  some  instances  by  the  Budhists  and  Taou- 
ists,  and  in  others,  by  their  own  zeal  bringing  them  in 
contact  with  the  doctrines  of  the  deified  Koong-foo- 
tsze ;  but  the  expulsion  of  the  Catholics  from  the  inte- 
rior of  the  empire  is  mainly  attributable  to  disputes 
arising  amongst  the  different  orders  of  Jesuits,  Domin- 
icians,  &c.  They  are  still  prohibited  from  entering 
the  Celestial  Empire,  or  disseminating  their  doctrines 
amongst  the  Chinese,  and  in   1820,  a  French  mission- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     IV.  57 

ary  was  strangled  in  the  province  of  Hoopih,  by  order 
of  the  government.  Notwithstanding  the  risk  they  run 
they  continue  to  labor  secretly  for  the  maintenance  of 
the  Romish  religion  in  China,  and  have  missionaries 
and  Catholic  communities  in  many  of  the  provinces, 
and  even  in  Peking  they  are  said  to  number  26,000 
members  under  the  care  of  two  French  priests.  Among 
the  Catholic  missionaries,  many  have  proved  themselves 
men  of  great  zeal,  splendid  talents,  and  finished  schol- 
ars, and  have  rendered  the  Empire  good  service  as 
astronomers  and  engineers. 

The  first  Protestant  missionary  to  China,  was  Dr. 
Morrison,  who  was  sent  out  by  the  London  Missionary 
Society,  and  arrived  in  China  in  1807,  where  he  re- 
mained till  his  death.  He  succeeded  in  translating  the 
scriptures  into  Chinese,  wrote  several  minor  works  on 
the  language,  and  formed  a  copious  Chinese  and  En- 
glish dictionary.  The  English  and  American  Mission- 
aries, who  have  gone  out  since,  have  added  to  the 
foundation  commenced  by  Morrison,  and  the  works  of 
Medhurst,  Bridgman,  Williams,  and  others,  are  valua- 
ble aids  to  the  student.  We  believe  that  thus  far,  no 
Protestant  missionary  has  penetrated  into  the  interior  ; 
but  confined  as  they  are  to  the  borders  of  the  Empire, 
they  have  been  diligent  in  founding  schools,  hospitals, 
and  printing  presses,  and  in  publishing  and  dissemi- 
nating the  gospel  and  tracts  among  its  myriads  of  idol- 
aters. Their  works  are  sent  into  the  interior  by  every 
opportunity,  and  in  this  respect,  the  hospitals  are  of 
great  assistance,  as  many  of  the  patients,  hearing  of  the 
wonderful  cures  performed  by  Dr.  Parker,  at  Canton, 
and  the  medical  missionaries  at  other  places,  come  from 
a  great  distance  for  relief,  and  the  wants  of  the  soul  and 
body  are  administered  to  at  the  same  time 

The  coffin  seen  here,  which  may  seem  to  the  visitor 
to  be  very  large,  is  one  rather  under  the  ordinary  size. 


58  CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE    IV. 

Some  of  them  are  made  of  immense  slabs  of  sandal,  or 
other  foreign  odoriferous  wood,  and  cost  large  sums. 
It  is  said  that  Houqua's  coffin  cost  one  thousand  dol- 
lars, and  that  it  is  not  unusual  for  the  rich  to  pay  this 
price.  In  these  large  boxes,  made  air  tight  with  chu- 
nam  and  varnished  inside  and  out,  the  remains  of  the 
wealthy  are  often  kept  above  ground  many  years, 
awaiting  the  decision  of  the  geomancers,  concerning 
the  fortunate  day  and  place  of  interment,  which  is  sup- 
posed to  have  a  great  influence  upon  the  future  for- 
tunes of  the  family.  Water  and  white  ants  are  the  two 
tilings  principally  to  be  avoided  in  the  selection  of  a 
place  of  burial  ;  and  as  the  Chinese  do  not  allow  inter- 
ments in  cities  and  villages,  the  burial  grounds  gener- 
ally occupies  barren  hills,  which  are  covered  with  tombs 
similar  to  the  one  seen  here.  All  of  them  are  in  the 
exact  form  of  the  Greek  />,  (omega)  and,  as  Davis  re- 
marks, if  taken  in  the  sense  of"  the  end,"  it  is  an  odd 
accidental  coincidence.  To  perform  "  the  rites  at  the 
hills"  is  synonymous  with  "  the  tombs  in  Chinese,"  so 
universally  are  elevated  spots  of  ground,  selected  for 
cemeteries. 

According  to  the  Chinese  Repository,  u  when  a 
Chinese  is  at  the  point  of  death,  his  friends  put  a  piece 
of  silver  to  his  mouth,  and  carefully  cover  his  nose  and 
ears,  superstitious  practises  calculated  to  aggravate  his 
disease  and  hasten  his  death.  Scarcely  is  he  dead, 
when  they  make  a  hole  in  the  top  of  the  house,  in  or- 
der to  allow  the  spirits  which  have  escaped  from  his 
body,  greater  facility  of  exit,  and  then  hasten  to  bring 
the  priests  to  commence  their  prayers.  When  they 
come,  they  at  first  set  up  the  tablet  of  the  departed 
soul  by  the  side  of  the  coffin,  at  the  foot  of  which  is  a 
table  loaded  with  meat,  lamps,  and  perfumes.  All  those 
who  come  to  condole  with  the  mourners,  and  to  assist 
at  the  funeral,  enter  the  hall  where  the  corpse  is  placed 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IV.  59 

and  prostrate  themselves  before  the  table.  Out  of  the 
house,  suspended  upon  bamboos,  numerous  burning 
papers  upon  which  figures  are  traced,  are  seen  flutter- 
ing in  the  breeze.  While  the  priests  are  reciting  their 
prayers,  (which  is  generally  during  several  days,)  beating 
time  as  they  say  them,  none  of  the  viands  are  eaten. 
The  priests  from  time  to  time,  call  upon  all  to  weep, 
and  thereupon  relatives  and  visitors  approach  the 
corpse,  and  nothing  is  heard  but  sobs  and  groans. 
Amid  these  preliminaries  to  the  funeral  repast,  if  a  new 
comer  arrives,  and  proceeds  to  weep  over  the  corpse, 
all  the  rest  must  join  with  him.  Meantime,  the  priests, 
by  force  of  their  prayers  make  a  breach  in  the  nether 
world,  for  the  escape  of  the  departed  spirit.  It  always 
goes  there  on  leaving  the  body,  and  they  know  in  what 
part  of  Tartarus  it  is  detained,  and  what  it  suffers. 
The  soul,  when  once  out  of  hell,  has  to  pass  over  a 
bridge,  built  across  a  river  of  blood,  filled  with  ser- 
pents, and  other  venomous  creatures.  This  passage  is 
dangerous,  because  that  upon  the  bridge  there  are  dev- 
ils lying  in  wait  to  throw  it  into  the  accursed  stream. 
But  at  length  the  soul  passes  over,  and  the  priests  give 
it  a  letter  of  recommendation  to  one  of  the  ministers  of 
Budha,  who  will  procure  it  a  reception  into  the  west- 
ern heavens.  According  to  the  doctrine  of  the  priests, 
every  man  has  three  souls;  the  first  comes  to  live  in 
the  body  in  some  of  the  forms  of  transmigration  ;  the 
second  goes  to  Hades;  and  the  third  resides  in  the  tab- 
let, which  has  been  prepared  for  it." 

On  the  expiration  of  twenty-one  days  the  funeral 
procession  generally  takes  place,  the  tablet  being  con- 
veyed in  a  gilded  sedan,  or  pavilion,  with  incense  and 
offerings  before  it,  and  accompanied  by  music  resem- 
bling the  Scottish  bag-pipe,  with  the  continual  repeti- 
tion of  three  successive  strokes  on  a  sort  of  drum. 
The  relations  of  both  sexes  follow,  clad  in  such  suits  of 


60  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE    IV. 

coarse,  brown  grass  cloth,  and  strips  of  the  same  mate- 
rial, as  are  seen  in  this  case.  The  coffin  is  carried  by 
four  men,  or  oftener  by  eight  on  account  of  its  weight, 
and  is  preceded  by  one  or  two  who  go  before  the  pro- 
cession, and  throw  pieces  of  paper  in  the  road,  to  pur- 
chase a  free  passage  for  the  corpse,  for  fear  that  it 
should  be  stopped  by  spirits.  When  they  reach  the  place 
of  sepulture,  which  has  been  inspected  and  pronounced 
good,  they  bury  the  dead  under  a  discharge  of  rockets 
and  crackers.  "  After  the  interment,  the  tablet  of  the 
deceased  is  brought  back  in  procession,  and,  if  the 
family  be  rich,  it  is  placed  in  the  hall  of  ancestors ;  if 
poor  in  some  part  of  the  house,  with  incense  before  it." 
In  any  case  a  feast  is  made  in  memory  and  honor  of  the 
deceased,  at  which  everybody  is  admitted,  and  if  the 
family  are  in  easy  circumstances,  it  is  a  good  windfall 
to  the  poor  of  the  neighborhood  who  all  assemble  on 
the  occasion.  "  The  original  and  strict  period  of 
mourning  (according  to  the  ritual)  is  three  years  for  a 
parent,  but  this  is  commonly  reduced  in  practice  to 
thrice  nine,  or  twenty-seven  months,  during  which  an 
officer  of  the  highest  rank  must  retire  to  his  house, 
unless  under  a  particular  dispensation  from  the  Empe- 
ror. The  full  period  of  three  years  must  elapse  before 
children  can  marry  subsequent  to  the  death  of  their 
parents.  During  the  period  of  mourning,  the  orna- 
mental ball,  denoting  rank,  is  taken  from  the  cap,  as 
well  as  the  tuft  of  crimson  silk  which  falls  over  the 
latter.  As  the  Chinese  shave  their  heads,  the  neglect 
and  desolation  of  mourning  are  indicated  by  letting  the 
hair  grow  ;  for  the  same  reason  that  some  nations,  who 
wear  their  hair  long,  shave  it  during  that  period.  On 
the  death  of  the  Emperor,  the  same  observances  are 
kept,  by  his  hundreds  of  millions  of  subjects,  as  on  the 
death  of  the  parents  of  each  individual  ;  the  whole  Em- 
pire remains  unshaven  for  the  space  of  one  hundred 


CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE    V.  61 

days,  while  the  period  of  mourning  apparel  lasts  longer 
and  all  officers  of  government  take  the  ball  and  crimson 
silk  from  their  caps. 


CASE    V. 

Chinaman  smoking  opium. 
Lady ;  wife  of  the  former. 
Female  attendant  with  tea. 
Couch,  tables,  chairs,  tea  poys,  book  case,  &c,  made  of 
bamboo.     Paintings  on  the  ivall.     Lanterns  suspended 
from  the  ceiling.     Door  screen  embroidered  with  gold. 

The  room  in  which  these  figures  are  placed  is  en- 
closed with  a  species  of  bamboo  work,  of  a  light  and 
tasty  fashion,  much  admired  by  the  Chinese,  who  con- 
struct entire  houses  in  this  manner  to  ornament  their 
grounds,  and  as  cool  retreats  to  retire  to  in  the  heat  of 
summer.  The  furniture  is  made  entirely  of  bamboo,  as 
well  as  the  frames  of  the  lanterns,  and  serve  to  exhibit 
some  of  the  innumerable  uses  to  which  this  plant  is  ap- 
plied in  China,  and  the  ingenuity  and  taste  displayed  in 
its  manufacture. 

The  male  figure  here  represents  a  person  in  easy 
circumstances,  who  is  somewhat  advanced  in  this  slavish 
habit,  reclining  upon  a  couch  with  the  pipe  to  his  mouth ; 
and  a  tray,  containing  the  prepared  opium  in  a  small 
porcelain  box,  the  opium  lamp  with  its  peculiar  glass 
shade,  and  the  small  implements  necessary  to  apply  the 
opium  to  the  pipe  and  to  clean  the  latter  when  requi- 
site. The  posture  in  which  this  figure  is  seen  is  that  in 
which  all  opium  smokers  indulge,  and  the  pipe  from  its 
peculiar   construction   is   confined    entirely  to   opium 


62  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     V. 

smoking.  A  person  never  having  seen  this  instrument 
used  would  be  puzzled  to  know  how  to  apply  the  opium  ; 
it  is  as  follows : — a  quantity  of  the  prepared  opium, 
(which  looks  like  very  thick  molasses)  about  the  size  of 
a  small  pea,  is  taken  upon  the  point  of  a  steel  instru- 
ment and  held  over  the  flame  of  a  lamp,  where  it  is 
kept  turning  during  a  few  seconds,  it  is  then  applied  to 
the  small  aperture  in  the  top  of  the  large  earthern  bowl 
of  the  pipe  to  which  it  attaches  itself  and  the  point  of 
the  instrument,  after  being  pushed  into  the  hole  and 
turned  round  to  detach  it  from  the  opium,  is  drawn  out. 
It  is  now  ready  for  smoking,  and  the  person  pressing 
the  end  of  the  thick  stem  of  the  pipe  against  the  par- 
tially opened  lips,  and  holding  the  opium  on  the  bowl 
over  the  light,  inspires  deeply ;  the  smoke  passes  into 
the  lungs  and  being  retained  as  long  as  the  person  can 
hold  his  breath  comfortably,  is  respired  in  a  dense  white 
cloud  through  the  nostrils.  After  a  few  whirls  a  new 
supply  of  opium  is  necessary. 

The  wife  of  the  opium  smoker  is  here  seated  near 
him  upon  the  couch  with  the  tobacco  pipe  in  her  hand, 
and  is  about  taking  a  cup  of  tea.  Some  of  the  daugh- 
ters of  Han  are  said  to  be  addicted  to  the  use  of  opium 
as  well  as  the  sons ;  but  the  proportion  of  the  former  to 
the  latter  is  probably  as  that  of  females  with  us  who 
drink  ardent  spirits  compared  to  the  males. 

The  female  servant  in  this  case  varies  but  little  from 
those  in  the  cases  already  described. 

The  bamboo  (Bambusa  arundinacca)  is  indigenous 
in  all  the  southern  countries  of  Asia,  in  the  greater 
part  of  China,  and  in  the  West  Indies.  By  long  culti- 
vation and  care,  it  has  become  sufficiently  hardy  to 
grow  as  far  north  as  Peking,  which  is  in  nearly  the 
same  parallel  with  New  York.  The  bamboo  is  called 
by  the  Chinese  "  Cfuih"  and  the  long  period  during 
which  they  have  cultivated  it,  and  the  desire  to  pro- 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     V.  63 

cure  new  and  singular  kinds  for  the  gardens  of  the 
wealthy,  have  produced  many  varieties.  A  Chinese 
botanist,  in  treating  on  this  plant,  observed  in  the  be- 
ginning of  his  book,  that  he  could  not  undertake  so 
much  as  to  name  all  the  varieties,  and  would  therefore 
confine  himself  to  a  consideration  of  sixty-three  of  the 
principal ! 

11  The  usual  height  of  the  bamboo  is  between  40  and 
50  feet,  but  they  sometimes  reach  60  or  70.  The 
diameter  varies  from  that  of  a  pipe  stem  to  seven  and 
eight  inches.  The  color  of  the  outside  is  not  always 
yellow,  but  has  been  made  to  vary  into  chestnut,  black, 
&:c.  The  black  bamboo  is  a  favorite  in  the  parterres 
and  gardens  of  the  rich.  The  process  by  which  the 
color  has  been  changed,  from  its  natural  yellow  to  a 
black,  is  unknown,  except  in  China. 

"  The  bamboo  is  so  useful  to  the  Chinese  and  their 
partiality  for  it  is  so  great,  that  it  may  justly  be  called 
their  national  plant.  The  many  purposes  to  which 
they  apply  it  are  truly  surprising.  They  press  it  into 
use  on  the  water  and  on  the  land.  In  literature  and 
confectionary  ;  as  well  as  in  navigation  and  clothing, 
ti  s  useful  plant  is  found  necessary.  Its  services  are 
required  in  building  the  house  and  clothing  its  inmates; 
and  it  is  indispensable  in  the  school-room  and  the  police 
office.  To  the  agriculturist,  the  carpenter,  and  the 
seaman,  this  plant  serves  many  useful  purposes.  The 
young  and  tender  shoots  of  the  bamboo  are  used  as  a 
vegetable  for  the  table  in  different  ways  ;  if  cut  as  soon 
as  they  appear  above  the  ground,  they  are  almost  as 
tender  and  delicate  as  asparagus.  They  are  white  and 
palatable,  and  when  in  this  state  are  used  as  pickles, 
as  greens,  as  a  sweetmeat,  and  as  a  medicine.  The 
fondness  for  these  young  shoots  is  so  general,  that  they 
are  made  articles  of  commerce,  and  are  sent  to  the 
capital  and  all  parts  of  the  empire.     They  often  form  a 


64  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     V. 

part  in  the  feasts  of  the  rich,  they  constitute  an  im- 
portant article  of  diet  for  the  priests,  and  all  classes  use 
the  pickle  as  a  relish  with  rice  and  other  vegetable 
dishes. 

"  The  manufacture  of  paper  consumes  great  quanti- 
ties of  this  plant,  but  the  paper  made  from  it  is  unfit  for 
writing  upon  with  a  pen  and  is  of  a  yellow  color. 

"  The  roots  of  the  bamboo  are  employed  by  the 
Chinese  in  making  grotesque  imnges  ;  the  gnarled  and 
crooked  pieces,  are  wrought,  with  the  aid  of  a  little 
fancy,  into  the  shapes  of  men,  animals,  &c.  The  di- 
visions of  the  joints  being  taken  out,  the  tube  forms 
excellent  water  pipes,  defended  from  injury  if  laid  under 
ground,  by  the  hard  exterior.  Those  which  are  very 
straight  have  been  used  for  astronomical  instruments. 
Vessels  for  holding  water,  buckets  and  measures  of  ca- 
pacity, are  made  of  those  joints  which  are  of  sufficient 
diameter.  A  large  hollow  piece  is  tied  to  the  backs  of 
children  living  in  boats,  which  buoys  them  up  till  aid 
arrives,  if  they  chance  to  fall  overboard.  The  light- 
ness of  the  bamboo  compared  with  its  length  and  di- 
ameter, fits  it  admirably  for  tracking  poles,  for  sup- 
porters of  the  mat  sails  of  the  Chinese,  for  roofs,  and 
for  poles  on  which  to  carry  burdens.  A  frame  of  four 
bamboos  is  made,  which  the  Chinese  sailors  use  as  a 
life  preserver  at  sea. 

u  The  manufacture  of  chairs,  stools,  tables  and  boxes 
from  the  bamboo  gives  employment  to  many  laborers. 
Fences  are  usually  constructed  of  it,  and  the  minor 
uses  of  the  poles  are  almost  innumerable.  Mats  of  dif- 
ferent degrees  of  fineness  are  manufactured  from  the 
long  internodes.  A  cheap  covering  for  boats,  houses 
and  sheds  is  made  of  the  wide  slips  of  this  plant.  Hopes 
are  also  made  from  the  small  twigs,  but  they  are  not 
adapted  to  long  use.  The  simple  instruments  of  the 
farmer  are  made  from  the  bamboo  and  the  leaves  are 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     V .  65 

used  to  thatch  the  houses  of  the  poor,  manure  the  soil, 
line  the  chests  of  tea  and  by  sewing  them  together  in 
one  direction,  a  rain  cloak  is  made,  oft'  which  the  water 
runs  as  from  a  roof.  Hats  and  umbrellas  are  made  of 
bamboo  to  a  great  amount.  Lampwicks  are  made  of 
the  pith  of  the  young  plants,  which  are,  however,  ill 
adapted  to  that  use.  The  handles  of  the  writing  pen- 
cils, arrows,  pikes  and  spears,  and  also  scaffolds  and 
baskets  are  formed  of  different  parts.  In  ancient  times, 
before  the  discovery  of  paper,  the  large  bamboos  were 
split  and  flattened  by  means  of  water  and  heat,  and  the 
sides  attached  to  each  other  by  wires  ;  in  this  state, 
they  were  used  instead  of  scrolls  and  books.  The  cuti- 
cle is  of  sufficient  hardness  to  produce  fire  by  friction. 
Much  skill  and  taste  is  shown  in  its  manufacture  into 
fans,  which  are  an  indispensable  article  to  every  Chi- 
nese ;  and  the  work  sometimes  bestowed  upon  a  single 
one  is  sufficient  to  give  employment  to  a  laborer  for 
weeks.  The  tubes  of  tobacco  pipes  are  almost  univer- 
sally made  of  the  bamboo ;  as  are  also  a  great  portion 
of  the  walking  canes  which  are  exported  to  western 
countries.  Finally,  the  bamboo  is  used  by  the  govern- 
ment of  China  as  one  of  the  most  efficient  means  of 
maintaining  order  and  enforcing  obedience.  It  is  ap- 
plied to  the  backs  of  offenders  in  cases  of  small  delin- 
quency, and  different  sizes  of  the  plants  are  adapted  to 
the  several  grades  of  crime." 

According  to  the  Chinese  Repository,  "  the  use  of 
opium  can  be  traced  to  an  earlier  date  than  that  of 
alcohol,  which  has  been  known  as  an  intoxicating  drink 
for  upwards  of  nine  hundred  years.  The  Grecians  ap- 
pear to  have  been  acquainted  with  the  soporific  powers 
of  opium  ;  and  as  a  medicine  it  has  been  employed  for 
many  centuries  by  all  civilized  countries.  It  was  in- 
troduced into  the  Materia  Medica,  more  than  two  hun- 
dred years  before  the  Christian  era." 


66  CHINESE   MUSEUM CASEV. 

The  operation  of  opium  upon  the  constitution,  greatly 
depends,  like  that  of  alcohol,  upon  the  quantity  and 
frequency  of  its  being  administered  ;  the  age,  tempera- 
ment, and  habits  of  the  individual,  and  the  climate  of 
the  country  in  which  he  resides.  Men  of  strong  consti- 
tutions using  the  drug  in  moderation,  like  a  similar  class 
amongst  us  who  indulge  in  strong  drink  may  enjoy 
health  and  attain  a  good  old  age,  but  the  number  of 
such  cases  in  the  aggregate  is  small,  and  amongst  the 
mass,  when  the  excitement  obtained  by  the  use  of  a 
little  begins  to  diminish,  the  dose  is  imperceptibly  in- 
creased until  the  victims,  to  whose  comfort  it  has  be- 
come essential,  finding  their  resolutions  too  weak  to 
overcome  the  habit,  shut  their  eyes  to  the  future,  and 
stifling  their  bitter  reflections  with  the  opium  pipe, 
rush  headlong  to  deeper  misery  and  eventual  destruc- 
tion. 

"  A  disposition  to  smoke  this  fascinating  drug  com- 
mences frequently  in  early  life,  particularly  when  the 
person  has  friends  addicted  to  the  practice.  He  is  in- 
duced, at  the  onset,  to  try  it  from  curiosity  or  persua- 
sion, or  because  it  is  fashionable.  At  first  he  smokes 
very  seldom,  and  perhaps  not  more  than  two  or  three 
pipes  at  a  time.  Gradually,  either  from  a  false  taste 
being  acquired,  or  a  desire  for  a  renewal  of  the  pleas- 
ure it  imparts,  the  pipe  becomes  a  more  frequent  com- 
panion, and  generally  in  the  course  of  a  year  or  two  it 
is  in  daily  use.  The  quantity  of  extract  at  first  smoked 
may  be  about  five  or  six  grains,  which  is  equal  to  three 
or  four  pipes.  Very  soon  this  is  increased  to  twelve 
grains  a  day,  six  at  night  and  six  in  the  morning.  By 
and  by  it  is  increased  to  eighteen ;  and  from  that  to 
twenty-five  and  thirty;  and  if  circumstances  permit, 
and  the  appetite  for  it  is  strong,  it  is  gradually  increased 
to  from  sixty  to  one  hundred  and  twenty  grains,  which 
is  about  the  average  amount;  for  though  the  greater 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     V.  67 

number  use  less,  many  cases  have  been  known  of  from 
two  hundred  to  four  hundred  and  sixty  grains  being 
smoked  daily." 

A  more  seductive  luxury  than  opium  cannot  exist. 
It  does  not  intoxicate,  as  is  generally  supposed,  raising 
the  animal  spirits  to  a  high  pitch,  like  fermented  liquors, 
for  a  short  time,  and  then  leaving  the  individual  in  a 
proportionably  depressed  state ;  but  on  the  contrary,  it 
is  asserted  by  Chinese  smokers,  supported  by  the  con- 
fessions of  De  Quincy,  the  English  opium  eater,  and  » 
others,  that  its  effects  never  approach  intoxication,  that 
it  calms  the  feelings,  and  imparts  a  sense  of  inexpres- 
sible, quiet  enjoyment,  which  is  kept  up  for  hours,  and 
to  renew  which,  and  not  to  escape  from  a  depressed 
stage,  which  never  follows  its  pleasant  effects,  the  pipe 
is  appealed  to  again.  Its  narcotic  properties  begin  to 
appear  as  soon  as  the  others  diminish,  and  after  passing 
the  hours  of  the  night  in  quiet  slumber,  accompanied 
by  the  most  delightful  dreams,  the  person  rises  in  the 
morning  as  refreshed  and  vigorous  as  if  no  opium  had 
been  used.  These  are  its  effects  for  several  years, 
during  which  the  habit  becomes  fixed  and  the  dose  is 
increased,  in  proportion  as  its  effect  upon  the  system 
diminishes,  until  a  reaction  gradually  takes  place.  The 
enjoyment,  which  has  been  on  the  decrease  for  some 
time,  now  ceases  entirely,  the  whole  system  has  become 
deranged,  the  members  of  the  body  refuse  to  perform 
their  functions  without  the  aid  of  opium,  and  the  poor 
victim  finds  himself  too  late,  a  slave  to  the  drug,  which 
he  is  now  obliged  to  use  to  escape  the  most  terrible  and 
indescribable  tortures  both  of  body  and  mind. 

The  late  Emperor,  Keaking,  early  perceived  the 
danger  to  which  his  subjects  were  exposed,  and  in 
1796  interdicted  the  introduction  of  opium  by  a  law, 
making  those  found  guilty  of  smuggling  and  selling  it 
liable  to  banishment  and  death,  and  the  smokers  subject 


68  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     V. 

to  the  bamboo  and  cangue.  This  law,  as  amended  by 
Taou-Kwang,  was  made  still  more  rigorous,  and  Man- 
darins and  their  subordinates  infringing  it,  were  decreed 
to  suffer  one  degree  more  severely  than  private  indi- 
viduals. 

But  all  the  efforts  of  the  Emperor  to  stop  the  progress 
of  the  drug  were  unavailing  against  the  enormous  bribes 
the  smugglers  could  afford  to  pay ;  and  the  profits  of 
the  trade  were  known  to  be  so  great,  that  the  fast  sail- 
,  ing  boats,  kept  filled  with  men  and  arms  by  the  govern- 
ment, for  the  suppression  of  the  traffic,  were  used  in 
many  instances  by  the  Mandarins  having  charge  of 
them  as  a  means  of  monopolizing  it. 

The  Emperor,  exasperated  on  finding  himself  foiled 
in  his  laudable  endeavors  to  stop  the  growing  evil,  and 
determined  to  leave  no  means  untried  to  arrest  it.  sent 
Lin,  an  officer  in  whom  he  could  confide,  to  Canton, 
invested  with  extraordinary  powers  to  carry  out  his 
measures.  He  arrived  in  Canton,  in  March,  1839,  and 
by  stopping  all  trade,  and  threatening,  and  forcibly  de- 
taining the  foreigners  residing  at  Canton,  together  with 
the  British  superintendent  of  trade,  Capt.  Elliot,  who 
went  up  there  to  get  his  countrymen  released,  he 
compelled  the  surrender  of  all  the  opium  then  in  port, 
amounting  to  20,283  chests,  which  he  destroyed  at  the 
Bogue  (mouth  of  Canton  river,)  in  June,  according  to 
the  Emperor's  orders. 

After  the  delivery  of  the  opium,  the  foreigners  were 
obliged  to  give  a  bond  not  to  engage  in  the  opium 
trade  in  future,  sixteen  of  their  number  were  banished, 
by  an  edict,  from  the  Celestial  Empire ;  the  opium 
vessels  were  ordered  to  leave  the  Chinese  waters,  and 
the  regular  traders  to  enter  the  port  or  leave  also.  The 
opium  trade  being  continued  on  the  coast,  the  English 
felt  insecure,  and  refusing  to  enter  the  port  as  required, 
Lin,  by  a  course  of  severe  measures,  undertook  to  drive 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     V.  69 

them  from  his  master's  dominions.  This  brought  on  the 
war,  during  which  the  Son  of  Heaven  issued  repeated 
orders  for  "  the  extermination  of  the  rebellious  Eng- 
lish ;"  for  rebellious  tributaries  they  were  considered 
by  the  Chinese,  having  sent  tribute  (as  the  presents  of 
Lords  MacCartney  and  Amherst  were  called)  to  the 
Imperial  Court.  But  "the  rebellious  English"  were 
not  much  alarmed,  and  collecting  a  force  upon  the 
coast  of  China,  they  destroyed  or  dispersed  the  redoubt- 
able army  and  navy  of  the  Emperor  wherever  they  met 
them.  In  fact  the  Chinese  appear  at  first  to  have  been 
entirely  unprepared,  except  at  the  south,  to  show  any 
effectual  resistance  to  the  attack  of  Europeans,  and  the 
whole  of  their  defences  seem  to  have  been  incapable  of 
arresting  the  progress  of  a  mere  handful  of  British 
soldiers. 

For  about  three  years  they  measured  their  strength, 
without  avail,  against  European  arms  and  discipline, 
and  several  times,  when  the  English  humanely  consent- 
ed to  treat,  the  Chinese,  who,  it  afterwards  appeared, 
only  wished  to  gain  time,  violated  their  agreements  ; 
until,  becoming  wearied  with  the  bad  faith  of  the  Chi- 
nese high  officers,  the  English  took  the  City  of  Canton, 
(which  was  immediately  ransomed  for  $6,000,000  and 
some  other  considerations,)  and  sending  an  expedition 
to  the  north  took  several  important  cities  on  the  coast, 
entered  the  Yang-tsz-kiang  (Child  of  the  Ocean)  took 
Shanghai,  and  proceeding  up  the  river  to  the  city  of 
Chinkiang  took  possession  of  that  place  and  blockaded 
the  Imperial  Canal.  Continuing  onwards,  they  soon 
appeared  before  the  walls  of  Nanking,  the  ancient  cap- 
ital of  the  Empire,  and  were  ready  to  attack  that  city 
when  the  imperial  commissioners,  Keying  and  Ilipu 
sued  for  peace,  and  after  several  friendly  conferences 
with  the  English  plenipotentiary,  Sir  Henry  Pottinger, 
a  treaty  of  peace  was  formally  signed  on  the  29th  of 


70  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     VI. 

August,  1842,  by  which  the  Chinese  agreed  to  pay 
$21,000,000  indemnity,  for  the  expenses  of  the  English 
during  the  war,  to  open  the  ports  of  Slanghai,  Ningpo, 
Fuchau,  and  Amoy,  to  all  nations,  and  to  cede  the 
island  of  Hong  Kong  to  great  Britain 

Thus  was  the  war  between  China  and  Great  Britain 
ended,  which  began  by  the  determined  means  pursued 
by  the  Emperor  to  put  a  stop  to  the  opium  trade  in  his 
dominions.  The  result  has  proved  that  he  is  powerless 
in  this  respect ;  and  since  the  English  government  vir- 
tually refuse  to  put  an  end  to  the  evil,  by  continuing 
the  growth  of  opium  in  their  East  India  possessions  for 
the  China  market,  the  cure  can  only  be  effected  by 
some  great  moral  action  amongst  the  Chinese  people 
similar  to  that  of  the  temperance  cause  in  our  own 
country  and  others 


CASE    VI. 


Chinese  Singing  Case;  such  as  are  seen  in  the  business 
streets  of  the  cities  during  the  season  of  thanksgiving 
to  the  gods  of  the  elements,  iveallh,  &-c.,for  their  pro- 
tection and  assistance  during  the  previous  year.  The 
figures,  $*c,  on  the  pannels  are  all  beautifully  made  of 
various  colored  silk  crapes,  worked  in  relief 

In  the  autumn  of  every  year,  the  shopkeepers  in  each 
of  the  streets  of  Canton,  subscribe  according  to  their 
means  to  illuminate  and  otherwise  adorn  their  respec- 
tive streets,  as  a  means  of  propitiating  the  gods  and 
thanking  them  for  protecting  their  houses  and  prop- 
erty from  the  ravages  of  the  elements  and  prospering 
their  business  during  the  preceding  year.     Interspersed 


CHINESE     MUSEUM     CASE     VII.  71 

among  glass  chandeliers,  which  are  suspended  overhead 
in  the  centre  of  the  streets,  are  groups  of  small  figures 
representing  scenes  in  Chinese  plays,  and  at  intervals 
are  hollow  pyramids,  resting  upon  the  houses  on  each 
side  of  the  way,  their  interiors  covered  with  thin  look- 
ing glass  and  foils  of  various  colors,  which  reflect  the 
light  from  hundreds  of  tapers  suspended  within,  and 
present  to  the  spectators  below,  a  gorgeous  and  daz- 
zling appearance.  Here  and  there  along  the  sides  of 
the  streets,  cases  like  the  one  seen  here,  are  fitted 
up  in  the  entrances  to  crossways,  in  vacant  places,  or 
shops,  in  which  musicians  and  singers  contribute  their 
part  to  the  entertainment.  These  illuminations  are 
kept  up  during  several  nights  in  a  street,  according  to 
the  amount  subscribed  by  the  residents,  and  are  then 
transferred  to  another. 


CASE    VII. 


Merchant. 

Parsee  purchaser,  in  the  peculiar  dress  of  his  countrymen. 

Clerk. 

Coolie,  setting  the  table. 

Beggar  soliciting  charitr. 

This  case  is  a  facsimile  of  a  handsome  mercantile 
establishment  in  the  city  of  Canton,  where  such  large 
and  beautiful  frames,  as  the  one  over  the  shelves  at 
the  back  of  the  case,  paintings  of  Jos',  incense  vessels, 
&x.,  are  only  seen  in  the  large  stores  and  hongs ;  but 
the  shrine  to  the  god  of  wealth  at  the  door  and  some 
representation  of  a  deity  inside  are  met  with  in  the 
smallest  establishments. 

The  merchant  seated  beh'.nd  his  counter  with  his 


72  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     VII. 

"  Soong-poon"  or  counting  board  beside  him,  entering 
the  orders  given  by  the  Parsee;  the  clerk  about  taking 
down  a  piece  of  goods  pointed  out  by  the  purchaser  ; 
the  coolie  preparing  a  meal  in  the  front  part  of  the 
store,  as  is  customary  in  Chinese  shops  ;  and  the  beg- 
gar at  the  door  in  the  act  of  beating  a  small  gong  to 
call  attention  to  his  needy  situation,  completes  a  scene, 
many  counterparts  of  which,  are  daily  met  with  at 
Canton. 

The  Chinese  are  good  merchants.  They  are  sys- 
tematic, obliging  to  customers,  and  indefatigable  in  the 
pursuit  of  money.  The  word  of  the  large  dealers  is 
entirely  to  be  depended  upon,  and  the  Hong  merchants 
are  noted  for  their  honor  in  mercantile  transactions. 
So  much  cannot  be  said  of  the  generality  of  small 
traders,  with  whom  foreigners  come  in  contact,  who 
are  as  great  rogues  as  can  be  found  anywhere,  and 
most  of  them  will  ask  four  or  five  times  as  much  for 
an  article  as  they  expect  to  get,  and  by  their  well 
feigned  surprise  if  an  attempt  is  made  to  beat  them 
down  often  impose  upon  strangers.  The  English  lan- 
guage is  most  barbarously  used  in  China,  and  conver- 
sations like  the  following  daily  take  place  in  old  and 
new  China  streets,  which  are  near  the  factories,  or 
foreign  residences,  and  are  filled  with  small  shops  which 
depend  upon  foreigners  for  support.  A  person  saun- 
tering along  one  of  these  thoroughfares,  is  accosted  by 
some  shopkeeper  on  the  lookout,  with  "  chin  chin!  wan- 
chy  some  litteij  chow  chow  ting  to-day  ?"  If  an  undecided 
answer  is  given,  this  question  is  followed  by,  "  walk  in 
take  dies  gentlemen."  At  the  same  time  receding  into 
the  shop  ;  where,  if  he  is  followed,  he  continues:  "jus 
now  wat  ting  wanchy?"  The  person,  if  he  understands 
the  language,  perhaps  answers,  "  no  sabby  true.  Can 
see,  can  sabby,"  and  begins  looking  about.  While 
he  is  doing  this,  the  shopkeeper  is  not  idle.     "  You 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     VII.  73 

missy  wat  name  ?"  "  My  name  is  Jones."  "  Au !  Missy 
Yones!  My  tinkey  you  lib  Missy  Wetmau  house.1''  "  No ! 
I  live  Suey  hong  number  two."  "  Au!  you  lib  Missy 
Faults  house.  My  sobby  he  vclly  ploppcr ;  Missy  Fauks 
my  number  one  good  fiend,  hab  gib  my  ple-enty  pidgeon. 
My  tinkey  you  Olo  Canton  Missy  Yones."  "Yes:  have 
come  Canton  side  one  time  before."  "  Juts  noio  hub  got 
noos?"  "  No.  What's  the  price  of  this  fan  ?"  "Au! 
dat  hab  number  one  Nankin  ting ;  two  dollar  plum  cashy 
hab  true  price."  "  I'll  give  you  half  a  dollar."  "Half 
dollar!  Hy-yah!  how  can?  Maskee  one  dollar  hqf." 
"  No.  I  won't  give  you  but  half  a  dollar."  "Hy-yah! 
numbar  one  ting  hqf  dollar  !  no  ca-an !  maskee  one  dol- 
lar." "  No.  Half  dollar."  "Jus-now-no-can-Ketchy 
any-plofit !  Maskee !  hab  litty  pidgeon,  hqf  dollar  can 
do:  no  ye  ivanchy  chesamanf  hab  got  numbar  one." 
"  No.  Here  take  pay  for  the  fan  out  of  this  dollar." 
"Hy-yah!  dis  hab  Kow  chin!  mus  loosy  too  muchy,  no 
got  chop  dolla  f"  "  No.  S'pose  no  can  take  that,  can 
keep  the  fan."  "Maskee!  bumby  spose  ivanchy  Ketchy 
cargo  pidgeon,  my  chin  chinny  you  too  muchy  take  care 
my."  And  the  universal  chin  chin  accompanies  the  de- 
parture of  the  visitor. 

The  Spanish  or  Portuguese  word  "sa-be,"  or  the 
French  "  savez,"  is  used  instead  of  the  English  words 
know  and  understand ;  and  maskee,  for  no  matter,  or  I 
don't  care.  Pidgeon,  is  the  common  Chinese  pronun- 
ciation of  business ;  but  those  who  try  to  speak  cor- 
rectly call  it  pidgeoness.  "  Hy-yah,"  is  the  Chinese  ex- 
clamation of  surprise,  and  chin  chin,  means  good  morn- 
ing, how  do  you  do  ?  thank  you,  &c.  The  other  words 
will  probably  be  recognized.  The  Chinese  have  a 
whimsical  preference  for  some  Spanish  dollars  over 
others.  They  divide  them  into  old  head,  new  head,  and 
Kowchin,  dollars.  The  first  bear  the  head  of  Carolus, 
with  the  stamp  of  some  particular  mint  and  always  com- 


74  CHINESE     MUSEUM     CASE     VII. 

mand  a  premium,  while  new  head?,  (just  like  the  others 
except  the  mint  stamps,)  and  Kowchin,  (those  bearing 
the  head  of  Ferdinand,)  together  with  North  and  South 
American  dollars  are  at  a  considerable  discount. 

The  Parsees  are  those  descendants  of  the  ancient 
Guebers  or  worshippers  of  fire,  who,  driven  out  of  Persia 
on  account  of  their  religion,  by  the  usurper  Caliph 
Omar,  sought  refuge  in  Hindostan.  After  the  English 
obtained  possession  of  Bombay,  many  Parsees  came  to 
that  place,  and  thence  went  to  Calcutta,  Madras,  China, 
&c.  The  religion  of  the  Parsees  is  called  Muzdyesne, 
or  Yezdaprust,  meaning  worshiper  of  God.  By  for- 
eigners it  has  been  contracted  and  called  Magi.  They 
worship  one  supreme  being,  whom  they  call  the  eter- 
nal spirit,  or  Yerd.  The  sun,  moon,  and  planets  they 
believe  to  be  peopled  with  rational  beings,  acknowledge 
light  as  the  primitive  cause  of  good,  darkness  as  that  of 
evil,  and  worship  fire,  (as  it  is  said,)  from  which  they 
have  received  their  name.  But  they  themselves  say, 
that  they  do  not  worship  fire,  but  only  find  in  it  an 
image  of  the  incomprehensible  God,  on  which  account 
they  offer  up  their  prayers  before  a  fire,  and  maintain 
one  uninterruptedly  burning  on  holy  places,  which  their 
prophet  Zoroaster  (so  called  by  the  Greeks,  meaning 
the  living  star,)  they  say,  kindled  thousands  of  years 
ago.  Their  religion  requires  them  to  say  their  prayers 
five  times  a  day.  They  do  not  allow  other  sects  to 
join  them  and  are  strict  in  their  observances.  If  any 
culinary  vessel  be  touched  by  one  of  another  caste,  it 
must  be  thrice  washed  to  purify  it ;  and  if  it  chance  to 
be  a  mineral  substance  it  can  never  again  be  consid- 
ered pure.  Their  laws  do  not  admit  of  polygamy  and 
are  peculiar  in  the  disposal  of  the  dead,  who  are  not 
buried  but  exposed,  in  large  buildings  made  for  the 
purpose  without  roofs,  to  be  devoured  by  vultures  and 
other  ravenous  birds.  The  number  of  the  followers  of 
Zoroaster  in  Persia  is  supposed  to  be  200,000.     The 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE    VII.  75 

number  in  India  is  about  50,000.  Almost  all  those  re- 
siding under  the  British  government  are  merchants,  or 
servants  of  merchants.  There  are  no  tailofs,  barbers, 
&c,  among  them,  and  they  are  dependent  upon  others 
for  the  production  of  almost  all  the  necessaries  of  life. 
The  few  in  China  are  principally  natives  of  Bombay, 
and  like  most  of  the  other  foreigners,  look  forward  to 
the  accumulation  of  a  competency  to  return  home  with. 

Chinese  merchants  live  in  their  stores  and  visit  their 
families,  who  reside  in  a  private  part  of  the  town,  daily 
or  weekly  as  business  will  admit.  They  generally  eat  but 
two  meals  a  day.  One  about  10,  A.  M.,  and  the  other 
about  5,  P.  M.  At  each  of  which  it  is  calculated  one 
person  eats  about  two  thirds  of  a  pound  of  rice,  but  as 
there  is  a  little  variety  upon  the  table,  consisting  of 
cakes  and  sweetmeats,  the  two  meals  cost  the  same  as 
the  three  eaten  by  mechanics;  that  is  ten  cents  per  diem 
for  each  individual.  The  table,  dishes,  &c,  which  the 
coolie  is  setting  out,  are  such  as  are  commonly  used.  It 
will  probably  be  noticed,  that  there  is  nothing  upon  the 
table  resembling  knives  and  forks.  These  are  not 
used  by  the  Chinese  at  table.  The  little  sticks,  at  the 
sides  of  the  bowls,  called  chop  sticks,  are  used  instead, 
and  the  facility  with  which  they  shovel  rice  into  their 
mouths,  and  fish  small  pieces  of  meat,  &c,  out  of  their 
stews  with  them,  is  truly  astonishing. 

The  number  of  beggars  at  Macao  and  Canton,  and 
their  pitiable  condition,  arrests  the  attention  of  every 
new  comer.  It  is  said  that  they  congregate  at  these 
places  from  all  parts  of  the  country,  and  that  at  Canton 
the  number  of  the  most  wretched  class  exceeds  5,000. 
The  blind  are  very  numerous  and  generally  go  about  in 
parties.  They  enter  a  store  wherever  they  hear  the 
voice  of  a  purchaser  and  set  up  such  a  horrid  noise 
with  their  small  gongs,  bamboos,  and  mournful  singing 
that  the  shopkeepers  are  generally  glad  to  give  them 
the  customary  sum  of  one  cash  to  get  rid  of  them  and 


76  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     VIII. 

the  vermin  with  which  they  are  covered.  Cutaneous 
affections  are  very  common  amongst  the  Chinese,  who 
appear  to  be  ignorant  of  the  efficacy  in  such  cases  of 
sulphur,  and  other  simple  remedies.  But  the  most  pit- 
iable objects  are  those  afflicted  with  leprosy,  which  the 
Chinese  consider  incurable  and  contagious,  and  a  per- 
son found  to  have  it  is  immediately  deserted  by  his 
friends  and  relations.  This  disease  appears  to  be  con- 
fined to  the  southwestern  provinces,  and  is  supposed  to 
be  owing  to  the  humidity  of  the  atmosphere.  In  Can- 
ton there  is  a  government  lazar  house,  appropriated  to 
lepers,  and  in  addition  a  part  of  the  city  is  appropriated 
to  them,  but  the  poorest  are  allowed  to  roam  about  the 
streets  to  the  great  annoyance  of  shopkeepers  and 
passers  by,  from  whom  they  solicit  alms. 


CASE    VIII. 


Lady,  ivife  of  a  wealthy  Chinaman. 

Young  lady,  friend  of  the  former,  preparing  to  smoke. 

Handmaid  playing  upon  the  "Pei-pa,"  a  species  of  guitar. 

Maidservant  lighting  the  young  ladifs  pipe. 

Small  boy,  son  of  the  first  lady. 

do.      younger  son  of  the  first  lady. 

A  large  and  beautiful  Screen  made  of  paintings  on  glass ; 
chairs  and  tables  made  of  king  wood  with  variegated 
marble  tops,  superbly  embroidered  door  screen,  vase 
containing  a  peacock  feather  fan  of  2,00  eyes,  fruit  up- 
on the  table,  scrolls  on  the  ivall,  lanterns  suspended 
from  the  ceiling,  &c.  &c. 

This  case,  or  rather  room,  is  a  perfect  facsimile  of 
an  apartment  in  a  wealthy  Chinaman's  dwelling.     The 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     VIII.  77 

richly  carved,  painted  and  gilded  work,  of  which  it  is 
formed,  together  with  the  furniture  within  are  in  pecu- 
liar Chinese  taste,  and  entirely  the  productions  of  the 
Celestial  Empire. 

Here  the  visitor  is  introduced  into  a  Chinaman's 
sanctum  sanctorum ;  the  female  apartments,  where 
Asiatic  jealousy  will  not  allow  his  most  intimate  friends 
to  enter;  nay,  the  door  is  even  closed  against  his  own 
father,  and  undutiful  sons  sometimes  flee  to  the  "  fra- 
grant apartments"  for  protection  against  the  wrath  of 
an  offended  parent. 

The  mother  is  playing  with  her  children,  the  eldest 
of  whom  is  threatening  to  throw  a  lichi  at  the  visitor, 
whilst  the  youngest  is  trying  to  get  a  peach,  held,  inad- 
vertently by  the  mother,  too  high  for  his  little  hands  to 
reach.  This  is  one  of  the  most  life-like  scenes  in  the 
collection.  The  countenance  of  the  principal  figure 
bears  the  indescribable  expression  of  a  mother  strongly 
impressed  upon  it,  and  the  children  with  their  little 
heads  shaved,  leaving  only  two  small  tufts  of  hair  done 
up  in  a  fanciful  manner  on  each  side,  are  also  true  to 
the  life  ;  they  are  both  boys,  which  are  the  pride  of  a 
Chinaman's  heart,  for  they  will  perpetuate  the  family 
name,  may  become  great  men  in  their  native  land  to 
reflect  honor  on  their  parents,  either  alive  or  dead,  and 
after  they  have  passed  away,  will  sacrifice  to  their 
manes  and  those  of  their  ancestors. 

The  young  lady  is  preparing  to  smoke  a  Chinese 
hookah ;  she  is  dressed  in  pink  and  green,  (the  colors 
peculiar  to  ladies,)  her  hair  is  decked  with  flowers,  of 
which  the  Chinese  are  very  fond,  "  the  golden  lilies" 
peep  out  from  beneath  her  dress,  and  on  the  whole  she 
is  a  fair  specimen  of  a  Chinese  beauty,  who,  as  they 
poetically  express  it,  has  "  cheeks  red  as  the  almond 
flower,  mouth  like  the  peach's  bloom,  waist  slender  as 
the  willow  leaf,  eyes  bright  as  autumnal  ripples,  and 


78  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     VIII. 

footsteps  like  the  flowers  of  the  water  lily."  Although 
about  to  indulge  in  a  luxury  which  would  not  be  con- 
sidered much  of  an  attraction  with  us,  she  is  doing 
nothing  contrary  to  the  usages  of  her  country  where 
both  sexes  contract  the  habit  of  smoking,  with  pipes 
of  various  construction,  when  quite  young.  The  only 
segars  they  have  are  small  paper  ones,  which  are  not 
much  used  by  the  better  classes.  Snuff  appears  to  be 
monopolized  by  the  men,  and  one  of  the  indispensable 
articles  suspended  at  the  waist  of  a  gentleman  is  a  snuff 
bottle,  some  of  which,  elaborately  carved  from  "  yu  " 
or  jade  stone,  cost  several  hundred  dollars  apiece.  The 
snuff  is  taken  out  of  the  bottle  with  a  small  spoon  at- 
tached to  the  stopper,  laid  upon  the  back  of  the  left 
hand  thumb,  and  conveyed  by  it  to  the  olfactories. 

The  female,  with  feet  of  the  natural  size,  playing 
upon  the  "pei-pa"  or  guitar,  is  a  handmaid,  some  of 
whom  are  children  of  the  poorer  classes,  and  others, 
those  who  are  in  infancy  left  by  their  unnatural 
parents  to  perish  in  the  streets  if  unnoticed  by  the 
passers  by,  but  if  of  good  personal  appearance,  are 
taken  up  by  those  making  it  a  business,  taught  numer- 
ous accomplishments,  such  as  embroidery,  music  and 
painting,  and  when  old  enough,  sold  as  handmaids  or 
personal  attendants  to  the  wealthy. 

The  servant  maid,  attending  upon  the  young  lady,  is 
dressed  in  clothes  suitable  to  her  class,  which,  while 
not  expensive,  are  at  the  same  time  neat  and  service- 
able, but  her  hair  is  cut  and  left  to  hang  down  in  the 
unbecoming  manner  of  all  young  girls,  not  of  marriage- 
able age  in  China. 

The  large  glass  screen,  upon  the  long  table,  is  one 
of  the  finest  specimens  of  Chinese  painting  on  glass, 
and  will  bear  the  closest  inspection.  The  painting  rep- 
resents the  branches  of  a  numerous  family,  paying  their 
annual  respects  to  the  oldest  surviving  members.     This 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE      VIII.  79 

is  an  ancient  custom  with  the  Chinese,  and  is  observed 
by  the  Emperor,  who,  upon  these  occasions,  performs 
the  "  Kotow"  (kneels  and  knocks  his  head  upon  the 
ground)  before  his  mother. 

The  furniture  of  this  apartment,  which  is  rich  and 
massive,  is  arranged  in  Chinese  style ;  the  sides  of  the 
room  being  occupied  with  rows  of  heavy  arm  chairs 
and  tea  poys,  which  are  not  intended  to  be  moved 
about  the  apartment  as  ours  are  Several  of  the  chairs 
have  landscape  marble  inserted  in  the  backs,  having 
trees  and  birds  upon  it.  The  finest  specimens  of  this 
kind  are  rare  and  expensive,  as  only  the  natural  colors 
of  the  stone  are  used.  They  are  made  by  taking  a 
slab  of  white  marble  having  dark  veins  below  the  sur- 
face, and  with  much  labor,  rubbing  down  the  exterior 
until  spots  appear  where  they  are  wanted,  to  form  such 
rude  representations  of  natural  objects  as  the  stone 
admits  of. 

The  universal  use  of  tobacco  renders  the  "  tom-to's" 
or  spittoons  seen  in  a  Chinese  room  in  such  profusion 
necessary,  and  in  the  construction  and  ornamenting  of 
these,  considerable  taste  is  displayed  as  the  visitor  will 
observe. 

The  embroidered  hanging  door  screens,  in  this  and 
the  bamboo  case  are  of  rare  beauty,  and  such  as  are 
seldom  seen,  even  in  China,  where  these  articles  are 
used  in  the  interior  of  dwellings  instead  of  doors.  The 
peacock  feather  fan  in  the  vase  is  an  article  of  orna- 
ment and  is  not  intended  for  use,  and  the  fruits  upon 
the  table  are  such  as  are  commonly  seen  in  the  markets 
at  Canton,  consisting  of  oranges,  lichis,  pomegranates, 
"  sam  leen,"  &c.  The  scrolls  on  the  wall  are  a  kind 
of  ornament  much  prized  by  the  Chinese.  They  are 
generally  choice  extracts  of  moral  sentences  from  the 
works  of  the*  ancient  sages  made  by  some  esteemed 
friend.  Those  selected  by  old  persons  are  valued  the 
highest. 


80  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     VIII. 

The  lanterns  suspended  from  the  ceiling  tn  this  room 
arc  very  unique.  They  are  made  of  stained  horn  and 
represent  lions  and  birds. 

The  Chinese  law  does  not  admit  of  polygamy,  as  is 
erroneously  supposed  by  many,  although  it  does  of 
concubinage.  "  A  Chinese  can  have  but  one  '  Tsy'  or 
wife,  properly  so  called,  who  is  distinguished  by  a  title, 
espoused  with  numerous  ceremonies,  and  chosen  from 
a  rank  of  life  totally  different  from  his  '  Tsii'  or  hand- 
maids, of  whom  he  may  have  as  many  as  he  pleases, 
and  though  the  offspring  of  the  latter  possess  many  of 
the  rights  of  legitimacy  (ranking  however  after  the 
children  of  the  wife)  this  circumstance  makes  but  little 
difference  as  to  the  truth  of  the  position.  In  fact  the 
wife  is  of  equal  rank  with  the  husband  by  birth,  is  es- 
poused with  regular  marriage  ceremonies,  possessing 
moreover,  certain  legal  rights,  such  as  they  are  ;  while 
the  handmaid  is  bought  for  money  and  received  into 
the  house  nearly  like  any  other  domestic."  The  '  Tsy' 
and  the  '  Tsii'  stand  to  each  other  in  very  much  the 
same  relation  as  the  Sarah  and  Hagar  of  the  Old  Tes- 
tament. 

If  a  person  has  sons  by  his  wife  it  is  considered  de- 
rogatory to  take  a  handmaid,  but  if  he  has  not,  it  is  of 
course  allowable,  and  some  of  the  Chinese  have  many. 
Pwan-tin-qua,  a  Mandarin,  well  known  to  foreigners  at 
Canton,  has  thirteen,  and  a  former  linguist  at  the  same 
place  had  nineteen.  According  to  Mr.  Lay,  "  the 
dwelling  together  of  wife  and  concubine,  under  the 
same  roof,  does  not  produce  that  unhappiness  that  our 
feelings  might  teach  us  to  imagine.  The  sole  pro- 
prietorship of  a  husband's  attachments  does  not  enter 
into  the  calculations  of  the  former,  so  that  she  yields  to 
the  obtrusion  of  a  rival  without  repining  ;  and  the  lat- 
ter is  content  to  find  herself  in  a  circle  much  above  her 
birth  and  parentage.     When   Chinese  ladies  are  ap- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      VIII.  81 

pealed  to,  they  allege  that  there  is  nothing  objection- 
able in  the  practice.  Wife  and  concubine  mix  together 
without  any  symptoms  of  jealousy  and  contend  that 
neither  one  nor  the  other  has  any  right  to  complain,  so 
long  as  the  husband  is  impartial  and  loves  them  both 
alike. 

At  home  or  abroad,  in  holiday  robes  or  in  plain 
clothing,  the  heart  of  a  Chinese  female  seems  to  be  at 
all  times  ready  to  overflow  with  mirth  and  good  hu- 
mor. Ill  usage  or  misfortune  may  make  her  sad  for  a 
while,  but  the  smallest  efforts  to  soothe  or  amuse  on 
the  part  of  one  whom  she  values,  drives  away  all  her 
heaviness.  Confucian  philosophy  has  done  its  best  to 
unfit  a  Chinese  for  the  possession  of  such  an  heritage, 
by  assigning  to  woman  nothing  but  the  privilege  of 
drudging  for  her  lord.  Those  well  chosen  terms  of  es- 
teem and  preference  with  which  we  are  wont  to  ad- 
dress females,  and  the  countless  variety  of  polite  offices 
which  we  perform  as  matters  of  course,  find  no  place 
either  in  the  written  or  unwritten  laws  of  Chinese  so- 
ciety. Native  poetry  and  romance  descant  upon  the 
accomplishments  of  the  lover  and  the  charms  of  his 
mistress,  and  in  beautiful  terms  and  imagery  eulogize 
the  bliss  of  chaste  and  well  requited  love.  But  these 
sentiments  seem  to  be  confined  to  the  poet,  whose  im- 
agination guided  by  the  promptings  of  his  heart,  and 
the  refinement  of  his  understanding,  portrays  what 
ought  to  be,  but  what  seldom  happens.  It  is  hard  to 
conceive  how  a  man  can  behold  the  object  of  his  best 
affections,  and  exhibit  no  desire  to  show  her  any  marks 
of  regard,  especially  when  his  heart  has  been  softened 
by  education,  and  no  external  circumstance  interferes 
with  the  display  of  his  feelings.  Whenever  the  light  of 
heaven-born  Christianity  shall  dawn  upon  this  people, 
and  begin  to  dissipate  the  mists  of  a  diabolical  system 
of  ethics,  which  has  so  long  brooded  over  the  land,  one 


82  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     VIII. 

of  the  first  evidences  of  its  presence  will  be  a  restora- 
tion of  fair  woman  to  all  her  rights  and  privileges  ;  she 
will  then  be  regarded  as  she  ought  to  be,  "  the  glory 
of  the  man,"  and  a  Chinese  will  then  behold  a  paradise 
yielding  flowers  to  embellish  his  feasts,  to  adorn  the 
friendly  board,  to  refine,  ennoble  and  rejoice  his  own 
heart." 

"  The  birth  of  a  female  is  a  matter  of  grief  in  China. 
The  father  and  mother,  who  had  ardently  hoped  in  the 
unborn  babe,  to  embrace  a  son,  feel  disappointed  at 
the  sight  of  a  wretched  daughter.  Many  vows  and  of- 
ferings are  made  before  their  idols,  in  order  to  propi- 
tiate their  favor  and  secure  the  birth  of  a  son.  The 
mercy  of  the  compassionate  Kwanyin  especially,  is  im- 
plored to  obtain  this  precious  gift ;  but  after  they  have 
spent  large  sums  of  money  in  this  pious  work,  the  in- 
exorable goddess  fills  the  house  with  mourning  at  the 
birth  of  a  daughter.  "  Anciently,"  says  Pan-Hwnypan 
(a  Chinese  authoress,)  the  female  infant  was  thrown 
upon  sonle  old  rags  by  the  side  of  the  mother's  bed,  and 
for  three  days  was  scarcely  spoken  or  thought  of.  At 
the  end  of  that  time  it  was  carried  to  a  temple  by  the 
father,  accompanied  by  attendants  with  bricks  and  tiles 
in  their  hands."  "  The  bricks  and  tiles,"  says  Pan- 
Ilwuypan  in  her  comment  on  these  facts,  "  signify  the 
contempt  and  suffering  which  are  to  be  her  compan- 
ions and  her  portion.  Bricks  are  of  no  use  except  to 
form  enclosures,  and  to  be  trodden  under  foot ;  and 
tiles  are  useless  except  when  they  are  exposed  to  the 
injuries  of  the  air."  At  the  present  day  as  well  as  an- 
ciently, the  female  infant  is  not  unfrequently  an  object 
of  disgust  to  its  parents,  and  of  contempt  to  all  the  in- 
mates of  the  family."  If  a  Chinese  is  asked  how  many 
children  he  has,  he  gives  the  number  of  sons;  the 
daughters  stand  as  cyphers  in  the  list  of  his  blessings. 
"  Infanticide  of  females  is  not  unknown  among  the 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     VIII.  83 

Chinese,  and  they  are  far  from  regarding  this  crime 
with  the  horror  it  deserves.  "  It  is  only  a  female,"  is 
the  answer  generally  given  when  they  are  reproved  for 
it." 

The  daughters  of  the  wealthy  receive  something  of 
an  education,  those  of  the  middling  and  poorer  classes 
generally  none  at  all. 

"  The  mistress  of  a  family,  among  the  ailluent,  has 
four  waiting  maids  ;  the  older  ones  to  take  care  of  her 
clothes,  and  to  attend  on  her  when  eating ;  the  younger 
ones  to  follow  her  when  she  goes  out,  to  hand  her  tea 
and  tobacco,  to  fan  her,  &c.  These  waiting  maids  are 
not  unfrequently  slaves,  whom  she  has  purchased  for 
herself.  Besides  these  she  hires  several  housemaids ; 
(as)  one  to  dress  her  hair,  one  to  cook  her  food,  one  to 
wash  her  clothes,  aud  one  to  follow  her  when  she  goes 
abroad. 

The  master  of  the  family  usually  has  four  personal 
servants;  two  grown  men,  who  wait  upon  him  at 
meals,  take  care  of  his  clothes,  and  attend  to  all  such 
matters  ;  and  two  younger  persons,  to  follow  him  when 
he  goes  abroad,  to  carry  his  pipe,  to  fan  him,  and  to 
present  his  cards.  He  has  also  four  domestics ;  the 
older  carry  water,  and  go  to  the  bazaars;  the  younger 
sweep  the  floors,  light  the  lamps,  and  wipe  the  chairs 
and  tables." 


84  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IX 


CASE    IX. 


Itinerant  barber  exercising  his  avocation. 

Person  being  shaved. 

Fortune  teller,  with  table,  &c. 

Street  doctor  and  medicines, 
do.    broker  with  counter,  &c. 

Large  map  of  China  at  the  back  of  the  case,  made  by  the 
Chinese,  from  the  surveys  of  the  early  Jesuit  missiona- 
ries. The  disproportionate  size  of  the  rivers,  which 
the  visitor  will  undoubtedly  notice,  is  a  fault  common 
to  all  Chinese  maps.  There  are  also  a  number  of 
bamboo  hats,  ivorn  by  the  lower  classes,  on  the  wall. 


"  The  number  of  itinerant  workmen  of  one  kind  or 
another,  which  line  the  sides  of  the  streets,  or  occupy 
the  areas  before  public  buildings  in  Chinese  towns,  is  a 
remarkable  feature.  Fruiterers,  pastrymen,  cook-stalls, 
venders  of  gimcracks,  and  wayside  shopkeepers,  are 
found  in  other  countries  as  well  as  China ;  but  to  see  a 
traveling  blacksmith  or  tinker,  an  itinerant  glass  mender, 
a  peripatetic  umbrella  mender,  a  locomotive  seal  cutter, 
an  ambulatory  barber,  a  migratory  banker,  a  perigrina- 
tory  apothecary,  or  a  walking  shoemaker  and  cobbler, 
one  must  travel  thitherwards.  These  moveable  estab- 
lishments, together  with  fortune  tellers,  herb  sellers, 
chiromancers,  &c,  pretty  well  fill  up  the  space,  so  that 
one  often  sees  both  sides  of  the  street  in  Canton  liter- 
ally lined  with  the  stalls  or  tools  of  persons  selling  or 
making  something  to  eat  or  to  wear." 

As  the  Chinese  shave  the  head  as  well  as  the  beard 
every  ten  or  twelve  days,  barbers  constitute  a  numerous 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IX.  85 

class  in  their  communities.  The  greater  part  are  itin- 
erant, and  with  the  chest  of  drawers,  which  answers  for 
customers  to  sit  upon  as  well  as  to  contain  their  tonso- 
rial  apparatus,  and  a  water  vessel  over  a  small  furnace, 
slung  on  a  pole  carried  on  the  shoulder,  they  traverse 
the  streets,  making  known  their  presence  by  occasion- 
ally twanging  their  call,  which  somewhat  resembles  the 
pitch  pipe  used  by  singers.  Their  common  appellation 
is  Ti-tow-le,  meaning  shave-head-old-man. 

There  are  7,300  barbers  in  the  city  of  Canton,  every 
one  of  whom  has  been  obliged  to  obtain  a  license  be- 
fore commencing  the  trade,  and  all  of  whom,  like  the 
other  mechanics,  form  a  community  whose  business  is 
regulated  by  laws  made  amongst  themselves.  They 
use  no  soap  in  shaving,  merely  wetting  the  head  and 
face  with  warm  water  before  applying  the  razor,  which, 
from  its  short,  clumsy  blade,  appears  better  suited  to 
opening  oysters  than  shaving,  but  which  nevertheless 
answers  the  purpose  intended  very  well. 

The  barber's  whole  apparatus  is  near  him,  and  his 
razor  and  other  small  implements  are  seen  in  one  of 
the  open  drawers  of  the  case  and  in  his  hands.  In 
addition  to  shaving,  some  of  them  exercise  the  function 
of  shampooing,  and  practice  cleaning  the  eye  and  ear, 
oftentimes  to  the  manifest  injury  of  the  former,  to  dis- 
eases of  which,  the  Chinese  are  particularly  subject. 
A  person  is  here  seen  undergoing  the  ear-cleaning  oper- 
ation, and  the  effect  produced  by  the  tickling  sensa- 
tion in  the  ear  is  faithfully  delineated  upon  his  counte- 
nance. The  barber's  remuneration  is  generally  twenty 
or  thirty  cash,  but  no  regular  charge  is  made,  the 
amount  being  left  entirely  to  the  generosity  of  his  cus- 
tomers. As  in  other  countries,  the  barber  is  the  repos- 
itory of  local  information,  and  his  success  is  usually 
proportioned  to  his  powers  of  making  himself  agreeable 
to  his  customers. 


86  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      IX. 

The  Chinese  of  all  classes  are  very  superstitious,  and 
fortune  tellers  consequently  abound  amongst  them,  who, 
for  a  trifling  consideration,  by  consulting  the  stars,  the 
lines  on  the  hand,  or  by  shaking  several  bamboo  slips, 
with  characters  written  on  them,  from  a  case  full,  will 
predict  with  confidence,  the  destiny  of  an  individual. 
Our  fortune  teller  uses  the  latter  method  which  is  the 
most  common,  and  his  advertisement  informs  the  public 
of  his  abilities  and  charge  for  the  different  information 
furnished,  whether  it  be  to  foretel  the  fortunes  of  some 
new  born  babe,  the  future  fate  of  some  hitherto  luckless 
wight,  a  lucky  day  for  a  marriage  or  funeral,  or  the 
proper  location  for  a  house  or  tomb.  This  class  pre- 
tend to  few  secrets ;  by  taking  the  characters  from  the 
slips  thrown  out  and  combining  them  upon  the  writing 
board  according  to  rules  for  the  different  information 
wanted,  they  form  sentences  which  are  explained  by 
referring  to  a  book,  and  frequent  appeals  are  usually 
made  to  the  crowd  around  as  to  the  correctness  of  the 
mode  of  proceeding  in  obtaining  the  explanations. 
There  are  sometimes  ten  or  a  dozen  of  these  wise  men 
to  be  seen  in  the  street  on  the  west  side  of  the  American 
factories  at  Canton,  in  the  space  of  a  few  hundred  feet, 
and  generally  some  of  them  are  Budhist  and  Taouist 
priests. 

The  street  doctor  is  another  ambulatory  genius  met 
with  in  China,  and  in  Old  China  street  (the  one  just 
mentioned,)  they  generally  surpass  in  numbers  the  for- 
tune tellers.  A  person  can  hardly  pass  through  this 
thoroughfare  without  seeing  some  of  them  exhibiting 
their  skill  in  dressing  a  sore,  pulling  teeth,  or  prescrib- 
ing for  some  of  the  ills  of  the  body.  Some  are  sur- 
rounded with  roots  and  herbs,  some  have  long  strings 
of  teeth,  which  they  have  extracted,  in  front  of  them, 
and  others,  like  our  Esculapius,  have  their  medicines 
exposed  in  small  jars  for  sale,  with  printed  advertise- 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IX.  87 

ments  of  their  virtues  and  directions  for  use.  Occa- 
sionally one  may  be  seen  with  some  large  bones,  or 
thick  skin,  such  as  that  of  the  rhinoceros  and  elephant, 
disposing  of  them  in  small  pieces  to  the  passers  by,  who 
suppose  them  to  possess  eminent  strengthening  proper- 
ties. One  of  this  last  mentioned  class  of  Chinese  M.  D.'s 
might  be  seen  at  the  entrance  of  the  American  grounds, 
in  the  latter  part  of  1844,  with  the  skeleton  of  an 
ourang-outang,  which  he  was  disposing  of  in  the  man- 
ner spoken  of,  and  as  an  evidence  of  the  virtues  of  the 
medicine,  an  unhappy  looking  chicken  stood  upon  one 
leg,  beside  the  skeleton,  with  a  duck's  foot  and  leg 
bandaged  on  to  the  other. 

In  addition  to  the  street  doctors  there  are  some  who 
have  acquired  sufficient  experience  and  reputation  in 
their  profession  to  find  plenty  of  employment  among 
the  wealthy,  and  are  consequently  not  obliged  to  resort 
to  the  thoroughfares  for  support.  As  dissection  is  never 
practised,  they  have  very  imperfect  ideas  of  anatomy, 
and  as  an  evidence  of  their  ignorance  of  the  circulation 
of  the  blood,  they  distinguish  twenty-four  different  and 
distinct  pulsations  in  the  body,  and  twenty-four  differ- 
ent diseases  at  each  of  three  pulses  on  each  arm.  They 
also  seem  to  be  ignorant  of  the  existence  of  muscles 
and  nerves,  and,  as  an  instance  of  their  ignorance  of 
the  latter,  Dr.  Parker,  the  American  medical  missionary 
at  Canton,  imformed  us,  that  a  Mandarin,  whom  he  had 
treated  for  tic  doloreux,  was  previously  under  the  hands 
of  a  native  physician,  who  told  him  that  the  acute  pain 
arising  from  this  nervous  affection  was  caused  by  the 
movement  of  a  worm,  existing  in  the  flesh,  which  he 
endeavored  to  kill,  but  the  worm  changed  his  position 
so  rapidly,  that  he  eluded  all  his  endeavors.  Another 
physician,  who  practised  in  Old  China  street,  the  doctor 
said  he  had  seen  cutting  off  the  edge  of  the  gum  around 
an  aching  tooth,  and  exhibiting  it  to  his  satisfied  patient, 


88  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     IX. 

who  was  eased  for  the  time  by  the  counter  irritation, 
informed  him  it  was  the  worm  which  had  caused  all  his 
pain.  When  a  Chinese  physician  is  unsuccessful,  he 
retires  with  the  adage,  "  that  there  is  medicine  for 
sickness  but  none  for  fate."  As  there  are  no  medical 
schools  in  China,  the  only  way  for  a  person  wishing  to 
become  a  physician  is  to  seek  for  some  celebrated  prac- 
titioner and  become  his  pupil. 

Notwithstanding  the  low  state  of  medical  science  in 
China,  which,  in  its  connection  with  astrology,  closely 
resembles  the  practice  of  the  healing  art  in  Europe, 
less  than  two  centuries  since,  the  Chinese  appear  to 
enjoy  as  good  health  and  as  many  attain  old  age  as  in 
other  countries. 

Comparatively  little  appears  to  be  known  by  foreign- 
ers regarding  the  bulk  of- medicines  used  by  the  Chi- 
nese, although  it  is  known  that  they  have  several  similar 
preparations  of  mercury  and  other  minerals  to  those  in 
use  with  us,  and  that  the  former  are  administered  in 
the  same  classes  of  diseases.  They  also  have  some 
similar  vegetable  medicines  to  ours,  but  ginseng,  which 
once  sold  for  eight  times  its  weight  in  silver,  stands 
with  them  at  the  head  of  all  remedies. 

The  street  broker  is  a  more  stationary  being  than  the 
others  spoken  of  above,  but  his  stand  is  seen  at  every 
turn.  For  a  small  per  centage  he  is  ready  to  exchange 
pieces  of  silver  or  to  buy  and  sell  the  only  national  coin 
called  by  the  Chinese,  Tchen,  and  by  foreigners,  cash, 
which  is  an  alloy  of  copper  and  zinc  principally,  and  of 
which  1,000  are  intended  to  equal  in  value  a  tael,  or 
Chinese  ounce  of  silver  (about  $1%)  but  1,200  and 
more  are  sometimes  given  in  exchange  for  a  dollar. 
On  the  introduction  of  Spanish  dollars  in  commerce, 
they  were  at  first  found  to  be  so  convenient,  that  the 
coinage  of  dollars  in  imitation  was  for  a  time  allowed ; 
but  though  these  commenced  at  a  higher  rate  than  the 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     IX.  89 

foreign  dollars,  they  soon  sank  greatly  below  the  stand- 
ard, while  the  foreign  coin  preserved  its  wonted  degree 
of  purity.     The  manufacture  of  imitation  dollars,  being 
now  prohibited,  is  still  carried  on  to   a    considerable 
extent  at  some  places  on  the  coast,  and  at  the  north 
the  opium  traders  occasionally  receive  dollars  with  Chi- 
nese and  Mantchou  characters  and  devices  upon  them, 
purporting  to  be  issued  by  the  present  Emperor.     The 
Spanish    dollars    imported    at    Canton   soon   become 
punched  into  such  a  state,  with  the  private  marks  of 
all  those  through  whose  hands  they  pass,  as  to  be  sale- 
able only  by  weight.     The  fraudulent  even  introduce 
bits  of  lead  into  the  punch-holes,  and  none  but  freshly 
imported  dollars  can  ever  be  received  without  a  very 
strict  examination,  called  shroffing,  in  going  through 
which  process  the  jingling  of  coin  may  be  heard  in  the 
foreign   residences   throughout  all  hours  of  the   day. 
Small  payments,  if  not  made  in  copper  coin,  are  effect- 
ed by  exchanging  bits  of  silver,  whose  weight  is  ascer- 
tained by  such  small  ivory  balances  as  that  seen  in  the 
hands  of  the  broker  in  this  case,  and  with  which  all 
persons  provide  themselves.     The  payments  to  govern- 
ment not  made  in  kind,  are  in  silver  of  a  prescribed 
rate  of  fineness,  which  the  officers  charged  with  the 
collection  of  the  revenue,  generally  deposite  in  some  of 
the  private  banking   establishments,  called   rtgan  po, 
(money  shops,)  selected  for  the  purpose,  who,  for  a  per 
centage,  refine  the  silver  until  it  contains  only  two  per 
cent,  alloy,  and  cast  it  into  ingots  of  one  and  ten  taels 
weight  called  Sysee,  upon  which  the  name  of  the  banker 
and  date  of  refining  is  stamped  to  prevent  fraud  on  the 
part  of  the  refiner.     There  are  no  chartered  or  privi- 
leged banking  companies,  but  the  private  banks  receive 
deposites  from  individuals  either  on  interest  not  exceed- 
ing twelve  per  cent,  on  drawable  at  will  without  inter- 
est.    The  legal  rate  of  interest  is  three  per  cent,  per 


90  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     IX. 

month  and  thirty  per  cent,  per  annum  ;  but  this  of 
course  is  very  seldom  reached,  except  in  pawning  and 
other  such  short  loans.  All  compound  interest  is  un- 
lawful, and  whatever  number  of  years  may  have  elapsed, 
the  government  does  not  enforce  any  claim  for  interest 
accumulated  above  the  amount  of  the  principal,  or  in 
the  Chinese  phrase,  "  the  offspring  must  not  be  greater 
than  the  mother."  The  ordinary  rate  of  interest  at 
Canton  is  from  twelve  to  fifteen  per  cent,  per  annum. 

According  to  the  Memoirs  sur  le  Chinois,  the  motive 
of  the  government  in  legalizing  such  a  high  rate  of  in- 
terest, is  partly  to  facilitate  loans,  and  partly  to  discour- 
age luxury  and  prodigality  by  hastening  the  ruin  of  such 
as  borrow  merely  to  spend. 

Some  of  the  former  dynasties  of  China  made  use  of 
paper  money,  which  probably  had  its  origin  there,  and 
was  first  announced  to  Europe  as  existing  in  China,  by 
Marco  Polo,  the  celebrated  Venetian  traveller,  who  vis- 
ited the  Empire  in  the  thirteenth  century.  According 
to  the  investigations  of  Klaproth,  paper  money  as  a  sub- 
stitute for  metals,  without  being  guarantied  by  any  sort 
of  mortgage  or  security,  was  first  introduced  during  the 
tenth  century,  although  something  of  the  kind  existed 
long  previous,  in  the  promissory  notes  or  bonds  of  the 
government  given  to  traders  to  the  capital,  and  all 
moneyed  persons,  in  exchange  for  their  cash,  which  they 
were  allowed  to  deposit  in  the  imperial  treasury.  These 
notes  were  eagerly  sought  after  for  purposes  of  trade, 
and  probably  gave  rise  to  the  issue  of  those,  on  a  differ- 
ent system,  which  rapidly  depreciated,  and  notwith- 
standing the  efforts  of  the  government  to  sustain  the 
credit  of  this  paper  money,  at  different  times,  caused 
much  distress  to  the  country,  and  the  Mongols  were 
driven  out  of  China  after  a  reign  of  less  than  a  century, 
through  its  abuse.  The  Ming  Emperors,  who  succeed- 
ed, were  not  only  unable  to  abolish  the  paper  in  circula- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      X.  91 

tion,  but  compelled  to  issue  new  notes.  Every  attempt 
was  made  by  compulsive  measures,  to  restore  the  paper 
currency  to  a  better  condition,  and  some  of  the  taxes 
were  allowed  to  be  paid  with  it ;  but  every  exertion 
was  fruitless,  and  the  notes  went  out  of  circulation  ;  at 
least,  history  makes  no  mention  of  them  later  than  the 
year  1455.  The  Mantchous,  who  succeeded  the  Ming 
Emperors,  and  are  now  masters  of  China,  have  never 
attempted  to  introduce  a  paper  currency,  for  they  are 
happily  ignorant  of  the  European  policy,  which  declares 
that  the  more  a  nation  is  in  debt,  the  more  it  is  rich  and 
flourishing. 


CASE   X. 

Military  Mandarin  of  the  sixth  grade. 

Archer. 

Soldier  with  matchlock, 
do.    ivith  spear, 
do.    with  painted  rattan  shield. 

Militia-man  or  policeman,  with  whip  and  lantern. 

Military  weapons  on  the  wcdl. 

Large  black  velvet  "  Law -San,"  or  "  State  Umbrella" 
embroidered  with  gold ;  used  to  hold  over  the  head  of 
the  Emperor  to  protect  him  from  the  sun,  and  carried 
as  a  banner  in  processions  of  State. 

Richly  embroidered  satifi  "  Law-San." 

Two   do.  "T'soy-Kays"  or  "Banners  "  which 

are  carried  in  processions  upon  a  horizontal  staff  be- 
tween two  persons,  one  preceding  the  other. 

The  Mandarin  in  this  case  is  equivalent  to  our  lieu- 
tenant. He  is  dressed  in  the  summer  costume,  with  a 
fan    (the   Chinaman's  constant  companion   in  warm 


92  CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE    X. 

weather,)  in  one  hand,  and  a  tobacco  pipe  in  the  other. 
The  chair  in  which  he  sits  is  the  kind  used  by  military 
officers  of  the  Celestial  Empire  when  inspecting  their 
troops,  and  is  made  to  shut  up  for  convenience  in 
transporting  it.  The  change  from  the  winter  to  the 
summer  dress,  and  vice  versa,  is  simultaneous  through- 
out a  province.  On  the  commencement  of  the  hot  or 
cold  weather,  the  first  person  in  each  province,  as  the 
tsoong-to  or  viceroy,  assumes  his  summer  or  winter 
cap,  which  is  noticed  in  the  official  gazette,  or  court 
circular,  and  is  the  signal  for  every  man  under  his  gov- 
ernment to  make  the  same  change.  If  a  superior  offi- 
cer to  the  viceroy  happens  to  pass  through  the  province 
at  the  time,  his  change  of  dress  sets  the  example. 

The  archer  represents  one  of  the  most  esteemed 
and  effective  branches  of  the  Chinese  military.  Their 
dress  is  the  handsomest  and  most  expensive,  and  their 
weapon  is  considered  by  the  Chinese,  and  no  doubt  is, 
superior  to  their  rude  and  ill-constructed  matchlocks. 
The  skilful  use  of  the  bow  and  arrow,  like  fencing 
amongst  western  nations,  is  considered  an  elegant  ac- 
complishment for  gentlemen,  and  the  bow  and  arrow 
constitute  the  principal  arms  of  the  cavalry,  who  are 
said  to  be  very  expert  in  using  them,  rarely  missing  the 
target  while  their  horses  are  in  rapid  motion.  The 
bow  is  made  of  elastic  wood  and  horn,  strongly  bound 
and  cemented  together,  and  strung  with  a  hard  twisted 
cord  of  silk.  The  strength  of  the  bow  is  estimated  by 
the  weight  required  to  bend  it ;  varying  from  eighty  to 
one  hundred  pounds.  The  longest  exceed  six  feet  and 
six  inches.  The  arrows,  for  practice,  are  made  of 
bamboo  with  horn  heads  pierced  with  holes,  which 
make  a  whistling  noise  in  passing  through  the  air ;  the 
other  extremities  are  feathered.  The  arrows  used  in 
war  are  made  similarly  to  the  others,  except  that  the 
heads  are  of  iron  or  steel,  and  the  shafts  stronger.     In 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASEX.  93 

using  the  bow  and  arrow,  the  Chinese  wear  a  strong, 
heavy  ring,  of  agate,  or  jade  stone,  upon  the  right  hand 
thumb,  with  which  they  draw  the  string. 

The  soldier  with  a  matchlock  is  dressed  in  the  uni- 
form of  his  corps,  which  is  plain  and  serviceable  like 
that  of  the  principal  part  of  the  Chinese  military.  The 
matchlock  in  his  hands  is  one  of  those  used  at  Canton 
during  the  difficulties  with  the  English  a  few  years 
since,  and  is  a  fair  specimen  of  this  species  of  Chinese 
fire  arms.  His  cartridge-box,  it  will  be  observed,  is  in 
an  exposed  position  in  front  of  his  person  and  many 
fatal  accidents  happened  during  the  war,  by  pieces  of 
the  ignited  match,  with  which  the  guns  are  touched  ofT", 
falling  amongst  and  firing  the  cartridges ;  and  in  one  of 
the  engagements  at  the  north  an  English  officer  lost  an 
arm  in  attempting  to  take  a  prisoner  whose  cartridge- 
box  exploded  at  the  moment  and  killed  him. 

The  soldier  with  sword  and  shield  is  defending  him- 
self against  his  antagonist  who  is  armed  with  a  spear. 
His  shield  is  made  of  rattan,  turned  spirally  around  a 
centre,  and  on  it  is  painted  the  face  of  a  hideous  mon- 
ster, the  object  of  which,  is  to  strike  terror  to  the  hearts 
of  the  enemy.  Such  weak  devices  as  this  were  used 
by  the  Chinese,  in  their  last  attempt  to  subdue  the 
"  rebellious  English,"  several  of  which  were  exceedingly 
ridiculous.  At  some  of  the  battles  the  brave  Tartar 
soldiers  advanced  to  meet  the  foe  with  their  faces 
painted  like  clowns  at  a  circus,  and  throwing  somersets 
as  they  came  on,  to  terrify  the  "  barbarians."  Several 
were  shot  upon  the  wing  (as  the  English  soldiers  called 
it)  as  they  performed  their  gyrations  in  the  air.  This 
mode  of  attack  is  only  paralleled  by  some  of  the  other 
stratagems  which  the  Chinese  soldiers  were  directed, 
by  their  commanding  officers,  to  put  in  practice.  One 
of  the  latter  recommended  his  men  to  use  their  endeav- 
ors to  throw  the  enemy  upon  the  ground  as  soon  as 


94  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     X. 

possible,  for  being  once  down,  an  Englishman,  from  the 
tightness  of  his  breeches,  was  unable  to  rise  without 
assistance,  and  would  consequently  be  entirely  at  their 
mercy. 

The  sw,ords  used  by  the  Chinese  are  generally  made 
of  iron,  and  like  the  matchlocks  are  of  little  use.  The 
spearman's  weapon,  of  which  there  are  a  number  of 
different  forms  upon  the  wall,  is  a  more  effective  in- 
strument, and  in  the  hands  of  disciplined  troops  would 
be  as  serviceable  as  the  bayonet  in  charging  an  enemy. 

The  sixth  figure  in  this  case  is  one  of  the  militia  who 
are  principally  used  as  a  local  police,  and  as  such,  this 
one  has  a  lantern  in  one  hand,  with  the  Mandarin's 
name,  to  whose  corps  he  belongs,  upon  it,  and  in  the 
other  hand  a  whip  which  is  used  to  disperse  small  riot- 
ous assemblages  in  the  streets,  and  to  clear  the  road 
before  the  great  man,  his  master.  His  dress  is  that  of 
the  Chinese  militia,  his  upper  garment  having  the  char- 
acter '  yung '  (brave)  inscribed  upon  the  back  as  well 
as  front,  which  was  considered  by  the  English,  who 
had  frequent  opportunities  of  seeing  it  in  the  former 
position,  as  rather  contradicting  this  quiet  and  modest 
assertion. 

In  addition  to  the  spears  of  various  kinds  upon  the 
wall,  there  are  two  bows ;  one  with  a  case,  and  the 
other  without,  and  two  pair  of  double  swords ;  one  pair 
with  a  tortoise  shell,  and  the  other  a  leather  sheath.  On 
a  stand  below  is  a  jinjall,  or  long  heavy  gun  on  a  pivot, 
which  has  three  moveable  chambers,  in  which  the  pow- 
der and  ball  are  put,  and  which  serve  to  replace  each 
other  as  often  as  the  gun  is  discharged.  These  have 
been  used  for  a  long  time  by  the  Chinese,  and  in  prin- 
ciple are  the  same  as  some  of  our  late  invented  fire- 
arms but  coarsely  made.  Being  constructed  of  thick 
wrought  iron,  and  very  strong,  there  is  little  danger  of 
their  bursting,  and  when  well  served,  in  close  engage- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      X.  95 

ments,  are  effective  weapons  of  offence  or  defence. 
Most  of  the  large  boats  and  junks  are  armed  with  jin- 
jalls,  in  which  the  Chinese  have  confidence,  and  which 
are  undoubtedly  superior  to  Chinese  cannon,  which  are 
cast  hollow,  not  bored  out  as  ours  are,  or  even  reamed, 
and  no  attention  being  paid  to  the  quality  of  the  metal, 
they  often  burst  and  destroy  those  whom  they  were  in- 
tended to  defend. 

Near  the  policeman  is  a  long  matchlock  or  sporting 
gun,  and  near  that  is  a  small  gun  which  stands  upright, 
with  its  wooden  cover  on  one  side.  Sets  of  three  of 
these  guns  are  placed  at  each  of  the  gates  of  Chinese 
cities  and  are  fired  as  salutes  whenever  a  Mandarin 
passes  in  or  out.  They  sometimes  serve  rogues,  who 
are  pillaging  in  a  body  outside  the  walls,  a  good  turn, 
by  giving  them  timely  notice  of  the  approach  of  officers. 

According  to  the  latest  authorities  the  Chinese  army 
is  divided  into  four  divisions,  according  to  the  number 
of  nations  which  compose  the  Empire. 

The  first  division  consists  of  67,800  Mantchoos  di- 
vided into  678  companies. 

The  second  division  is  composed  of  Mongols  who 
entered  China  with  the  Mantchoos  at  the  time  of  the 
conquest,  and  comprises  a  body  of  21,000  men  formed 
into  21 1  companies. 

The  third  division  is  composed  of  Chinese  who  joined 
the  Mantchoos  towards  the  end  of  the  reign  of  the  last 
Chinese  dynasty.  This  division  includes  the  field  artil- 
lery of  four  hundred  cannon,  and  consists  of  27,000 
men  divided  into  270  companies.  These  three  divis- 
ions forming  a  total  of  about  116,000  men,  constitute 
the  Tartar  regular  army,  the  greater  part  of  which  is 
cavalry,  and  which  is  ranged  under  eight  standards, 
distinguished  by  the  colors,  yellow,  white,  red,  and  blue, 
and  each  of  these  bordered  by  one  of  the  others. 

The  green  flag  distinguishes  the  Chinese  troops,  who 


96  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     X. 

constitute  the  fourth  division,  which  contains  in  the 
aggregate  about  625,000  men.  These  are  the  militia 
spread  throughout  the  provinces,  most  of  whom  do  little 
or  no  military  duty,  but  having  proved  themselves 
strong,  able  bodied  men,  by  lifting  the  weights  pre- 
scribed by  law,  are  recruited  and  become  liable  to  be 
called  upon  to  serve  at  any  time,  but  the  mass  of  them 
receive  their  pay  of  a  few  dollars  a  year  and  continue 
at  their  occupations. 

In  addition  to  these  four  divisions  amounting  to  nearly 
740,000  men,  there  is  an  irregular  light  Mongol  cavalry 
which  is  said  by  Timkouski  to  resemble  the  Russian 
Cossacks  of  the  Don,  Oural,  &c,  who  pay  no  taxes  but 
do  military  service  on  the  frontiers  instead.  This  body 
of  Mongols  is  estimated  by  some  persons,  at  500,000 
men,  but  it  is  impossible  to  ascertain  this  with  any  de- 
gree of  exactness. 

The  Chinese  military  officers,  like  the  civil,  are  di- 
vided into  nine  ranks  distinguished  by  the  same  balls 
upon  their  caps,  but  the  first  rank  of  military  officers 
only  claim  right  of  precedence  with  the  fourth  rank  of 
civilians.  As  Davis  correctly  remarks ;  "  It  may  be 
considered  as  one  proof  of  social  advancement  on  the 
part  of  the  Chinese,  that  the  civil  authority  is  generally 
superior  to  the  military,  and  that  letters  always  rank 
above  arms,  in  spite  even  of  the  manner  in  which  the 
Tartars  obtained  the  Empire.  In  this  respect  China 
may  be  said  to  have  subdued  her  conquerors."  "A 
military  Mandarin  of  the  highest  grade  may  be  often 
seen  on  foot,  when  a  civil  officer  of  middling  rank 
would  be  considered  as  degraded  unless  in  a  sedan  with 
four  bearers  ;  the  others  are  not  allowed  chairs  but  may 
ride." 

"  The  highest  military  rank  is  that  of  a  tsleang-Keun, 
or  Tartar  general,  one  of  whom  has  charge  of  the  regu- 
lar troops  in  Canton  province  ;  this  post  can  never  be 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASEX.  97 

filled  by  a  Chinese,  but  secondary  commands  may. 
Below  these  are  subordinate  officers,  promoted  in  regu- 
lar order  from  the  lowest  grade,  according  to  their 
physical  strength,  and  their  skill  in  shooting  with  the 
bow,  combined  with  the  activity  and  zeal  which  they 
may  occasionally  display  in  cases  of  civil  commotion  or 
revolt.  One  very  singular  feature  we  must  not  forget 
to  notice,  in  regard  to  the  military  officers  of  China. 
They  are  all  subject  to  corporal  punishment,  and  very 
often  experience  it,  together  with  the  punishment  of 
the  cangue.  This  parental  allotment  of  a  certain  quan- 
tum of  flagellation  and  personal  exposure,  is  occasion- 
ally the  fate  of  the  highest  officers,  and,  upon  the  whole, 
must  be  regarded  as  a  very  odd  way  of  improving  their 
military  character.  It  must  be  observed,  however,  that 
enterprising  courage  is  not  considered  as  a  merit  in 
Chinese  tactics.  They  have  a  maxim,  that  '  rash  and 
arrogant  soldiers  must  be  defeated.'  The  qualities  of 
a  good  general  are  enumerated  as  follows  by  the  Chi- 
nese. ■  The  covetous  he  appoints  to  guard  his  treasure ; 
the  uncorrupt  to  dispense  his  rewards;  the  benevolent 
to  accept  submission  ;  the  discriminating  and  astute  to 
be  envoys  ;  the  scheming  to  divine  the  enemy's  plans; 
the  timid  to  guard  the  gate;  the  brave  to  force  the 
enemy ;  the  strong  to  seize  an  important  pass ;  the 
alert  to  gain  intelligence  ;  the  deaf  to  keep  a  lookout ; 
and  the  blind  to  listen.  As  a  good  carpenter  throws 
away  no  blocks,  so  a  good  general  has  no  men  unem- 
ployed. Each  is  selected  according  to  his  capacity; 
but  favor,  (it  is  added,)  and  interest,  and  secret  influ- 
ence subvert  the  order  of  things,  sending  the  blind  to 
look  out,  and  the  deaf "to  listen.'  " 

Notwithstanding  the  reputation  the  Chinese  have  ac- 
quired of  being  great  cowards,  a  reputation  which  the 
mass  perhaps  deserve,  according  to  the  general  accep- 
tation of  the  term,  the  English  officers  bear  witness  that 


98 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     X. 


there  arc  some  brave  men  amongst  them.  At  the  tak- 
ing of  the  city  of  Amoy  by  the  British,  in  August, 
1841.  a  Chinese  officer  was  observed  to  cut  his  throat 
in  a  battery  as  the  foreigners  entered  it,  and  another 
walked  into  tbe  sea  and  drowned  himself  in  the  coolest 
manner  possible.  Other  instances  were  noticed  at 
Chinhae,  upon  the  defence  of  which  the  rich  city  of 
Ningpoo  depended  for  preservation,  which,  with  the  lat- 
ter, fell  into  the  hands  of  the  British  in  October  of  the 
same  year.  The  Chinese  troops  at  this  place,  although 
broken  and  dispersed,  refused  to  lay  down  their  arms, 
preferring  death  to  surrender,  and  many  officers  com- 
mitted suicide  ;  thus  showing  that  discipline  was  all  that 
was  wanting  to  make  sood  soldiers  of  them.  The 
cowardice  of  the  mass  is  probably  owing  to  the  long 
peace  the  Empire  has  enjoyed,  to  their  naturally  amia- 
ble dispositions,  and  the  state  of  subjection  they  are 
kept  in  during  their  lives  destroying  all  confidence  in 
their  own  powers.  But  that  they  are  naturally  cowards 
we  do  not  believe,  having  seen  the  class  of  persons  who 
would  probably  be  the  first  to  run  before  a  body  of 
soldiers,  submit  to  the  most  painful  operations  of  the 
surgeon's  knife  without  flinching  in  the  least,  or  even 
uttering  a  groan. 

The  Chinese  believe  the  gall-bladder  to  be  the  seat 
of  courage,  and  the  heart  the  tenement  of  the  mind  ; 
that  the  latter  turns  pale  like  the  face,  when  a  person 
is  under  the  influence  of  fear,  and  that  rice  steeped  in 
the  gall-bladder  of  a  human  being  and  eaten  will  make 
brave  men  of  cowards. 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XI. 


99 


CASE    XI  . 

Man  ploughing^  with  a  buffalo  attached  to  the  plough. 

Man  ivith  a  rush  cape  on  and  a  hoe  in  his  hand. 

Man  beating  out  paddy  (unhulled  rice.) 

Man  whitening  rice. 

Coolie  carrying  two  boxes  of  tea. 

Chain  pump  for  irrigating  rice  fields. 

Machine  for  hulling  paddy. 

Model  of  a  tvinnowing  mill. 

Large  size  bellows  used  by  blacksmiths. 

Stone  rice  mill* 

Ropes  made  of  bamboo,  rattan,  and  coir  or  husk  of  the 
cocoa  nut. 

At  the  back  of  the  case  are  some  of  the  implements  used 
in  husbandry,  a  variety  of  bamboo  baskets,  fyc,  and 
specimens  of  the  common  cotton  and  grass  cloths  man- 
ufactured by  the  Chinese. 

The  Chinese  husbandman  and  his  implements,  as 
seen  here,  are  probably  the  same  as  they  were  ages 
ago.  The  plough  is  said  to  be  the  counterpart  of  that 
used  by  the  ancient  Hebrews,  and  strongly  resembles 
those  found  among  the  Arabs  or  Syrians.  As  in  other 
countries,  this  implement  is  synonymous  with  hus- 
bandry, a  farmer  being  called  Kung-teen-jin,  "  a  man 
who  ploughs  the  fields."  The .  buffalo  is  used  almost 
entirely  in  the  southern  provinces  for  ploughing  the  rice 
fields  to  which  he  is  peculiarly  adapted,  being  a  hardy- 
animal,  living  on  coarse  food,  and  his  nature  leading 
him  to  prefer  wet,  muddy  shallows,  where  he  may  often 
be  seen  wallowing  like  a   hog  with  nothing  but  his 


100  CHINESE      MUSEUM —  CASE     XI. 

head  above  water.     From  this  propensity  he  receives 
his  Chinese  name  of  "  Shiiey-neiv,"  "  water-ox." 

The  rush  cape  worn  by  the  second  figure  is  also  used 
by  fishermen  and  others  in  rainy  weather,  and  the  "CTia," 
or  hoe  in  his  hand  is  the  most  common  utensil  in  Chi- 
nese husbandry.  A  considerable  part  of  the  turning 
over  the  soil  is  done  with  it  instead  of  the  plough,  and 
by  practice  the  Chinaman  has  learned  to  apply  it  to 
almost  as  many  uses  as  there  are  separate  instruments 
in  other  countries. 

Next  to  thrashing  with  the  flail,  the  mode  of  beating 
the  paddy  from  the  straw  exhibited  here  is  the  most 
common.  The  tub  and  other  apparatus  is  carried  to 
the  field,  and  the  grain  as  fast  as  cut  is  brought  to  it 
and  the  paddy  beat  out  immediately.  By  this  method 
the  straw  is  injured  very  little,  and  serves  for  making 
brooms,  rain  cloaks,  mats,  &c.  Animals  are  also  some- 
times used  in  treading  out  grain.  All  the  principal 
farms  have  thrashing  grounds,  made  of  hard  earth  or 
chunam,  and  almost  every  village  has  a  public  one  for 
the  accommodation  of  small  farmers. 

The  paddy  is  deprived  of  its  husk,  and  whitened 
either  by  the  trip  hammer  and  mortar,  at  which  the 
fourth  figure  is  at  work,  or  the  circular  machine  seen  at 
the  back  of  the  case  made  of  pieces  of  bamboo  set  on 
end  in  a  frame,  and  fastened  with  chunam,  a  cement 
made  of  lime  and  oil. 

Our  coolie  represents  a  numerous  body  in  China 
where  nearly  everything  is  carried  by  them.  At  the 
north,  carts  with  low  plank  wheels,  and  wheelbarrows, 
are  sometimes  seen ;  but  at  the  south  there  are  many 
who  never  even  heard  of  such  things,  and  at  Hong- 
Kong  an  anecdote  is  told  which  illustrates  their  igno- 
ranee  of  such  machines,  as  well  as  their  attachment  to 
"  old  custom."  In  making  some  of  the  roads  along  the 
side  of  the  mountain  where  the  town   of  Victoria  is 


CHINESE  MUSEUM CASE  XI.     101 

located,  the  superintendent  thought  the  work  would  be 
expedited  by  using  wheelbarrows,  and  accordingly  pro- 
cured some  which  were  put  into  the  hands  of  the  coolies 
without  any  instructions  about  the  manner  of  using 
them,  it  being  taken  for  granted  they  knew  how  ;  but 
much  to  the  amusement  of  the  foreigners,  who  hap- 
pened to  be  looking  on  at  the  time,  the  Chinamen, 
after  filling  the  barrows,  with  which  they  seemed 
pleased,  slung  them  with  a  rope  upon  the  bamboos,  as 
they  were  wont  to  do  their  baskets,  and  in  pairs,  with 
the  barrows  between  them,  trudged  off  to  the  edge  of 
the  bank  with  their  loads;  and  it  was  sometime,  and 
not  without  much  trouble,  that  they  were  induced  to 
use  them  properly.  The  Chinese  coolies  are  probably 
as  muscular  a  body  of  men  as  can  be  found  in  the 
world,  although  their  food  is  principally  rice.  Their 
pace  is  always  a  kind  of  half  run,  and  they  may  be  often 
seen  moving  along  with  loads  of  one  or  two  hundred 
pounds  apiece  at  the  rate  of  four  or  five  miles  an  hour. 
Farmers  and  coolies  wages  do  not  usually  exceed  three 
or  four  cents  a  day  and  boarded,  and  many  do  not  get 
as  much. 

The  farming  implements  and  machines  in  this  case 
are  the  principal  ones  used  by  the  Chinese.  The  fan- 
ning-mill  is  sometimes  used  to  clean  tea  as  well  as 
grain,  which  is  more  commonly  separated  from  the 
chafY  by  being  let  fall,  from  such  large  bamboo  trays  as 
are  here  seen,  in  a  current  of  air.  The  fanning-mill  is 
said,  by  Davis,  to  have  originated  in  China,  where  it  is 
made  like  this  model,  with  several  spouts  to  separate 
the  grains  of  different  gravities  as  well  as  to  clean  it 
from  the  chaff.  The  chain  pump  is  of  various  dimen- 
sions ;  this  is  a  small  one.  It  is  only  calculated  for 
raising  water  to  small  heights  and  is  generally  worked 
by  hand  with  a  crank,  or  by  the  feet  with  treddles,  on 
the  shaft,  which,  being  turned,  draws  the  boards  up  the 


102  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XI. 

trough  in  succession,  and  the  water  in  front  of  them. 
The  suction  pump  is  unknown  in  China,  and  the  force 
pump,  which  was  introduced  by  Europeans,  is  but  little 
used. 

The  common  cloths  in  this  case  are  manufactured 
cheaply,  and  retailed  at  a  low  price,  and  the  partiality 
of  the  Chinese  for  their  own  productions,  leads  them  to 
make  use  of  these  in  preference  to  foreign  goods; 
some  of  which  are  much  better  and  equally  as  cheap. 

As  agriculturists,  the  Chinese  have  generally  been 
overrated  by  authors,  as  it  is  said  by  competent  judges 
that  they  do  not  equal  the  English.  They  are  better  gar- 
deners than  farmers,  and  in  that  art  certainly  do  excel. 
Their  terrace  cultivation  has  been  much  exaggerated 
by  those  writers  who  affirm  that  nearly  all  the  hills  are 
terraced  to  the  very  summits,  when  in  fact  but  very  few 
are,  as  is  testified  to  by  Davis  and  other  members  of 
European  embassies  who  have  visited  the  interior,  and 
nearly  every  person,  visiting  China,  is  disappointed  at 
seeing  the  large  number  of  barren  hills  between  the 
ocean  and  Canton,  a  distance  of  seventy-five  or  eighty 
miles,  where  it  was  expected  a  perfect  garden  would  be 
found.  Other  parts  of  the  Empire  are  said  to  present 
a  similar  spectacle,  and  Peking,  the  capital,  is  situated 
upon  a  sandy,  arid  plain,  incapable  of  sustaining  vege- 
tation. Those  hills  only  are  terraced,  where  the  soil 
warrants  a  good  return  for  the  labor  expended,  and 
where  a  plentiful  supply  of  water  can  be  conveniently 
obtained.  Agriculture  in  China  holds  a  rank  second 
only  to  literature,  and  to  perpetuate  the  remembrance 
of  those  times  when  princes  themselves  were  cultivators 
of  the  soil,  the  Emperors  of  China,  accompanied  by  the 
chief  officers  and  princes  of  the  blood,  repair  at  the 
proper  time,  in  the  spring  of  each  year,  to  the  temple 
of  the  inventor  of  agriculture  at  Peking,  the  grounds 
about  which   are  enclosed  by  a  high  wall,   to  till  the 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XI.  103 

ground  and  offer  sacrifice  to  Heaven.  The  part  of  the 
field  tilled  by  the  Emperor  is  covered  with  a  kind  of 
tent  made  of  mats,  and  after  he  has  ploughed  for  about 
half  an  hour  he  ascends  a  neighboring  eminence  whence 
he  examines  the  work  of  the  princes,  ministers  and 
Mandarins,  who,  guided  by  the  most  experienced  culti- 
vators, plough  in  the  open  air.  All  are  dressed  like 
farmers,  and  while  they  are  at  work  the  musicians  of 
the  court  sing  hymns  composed  in  ancient  times  in 
honor  of  agriculture.  The  ploughs  are  drawn  by  oxen 
which  are  never  used  on  any  other  occasion.  There 
are  also  granaries  destined  for  the  produce,  part  of 
which  is  used  for  seed  upon  future  occasions  and  part 
to  make  cakes  for  the  sacrifice  to  Heaven. 

Rice,  the  principal  production  of  China,  may  be 
called  the  staff  of  life  in  that  populous  country,  and 
Gutzlaff  remarks,  that  a  native  of  the  southern  prov- 
inces will  not  admit  he  has  made  a  meal,  unless  he  has 
eaten  a  sufficient  quantity  of  rice,  and  some  Chinese 
once  inquiring  of  him  whether  the  western  barbarians 
ate  rice,  and  finding  him  slow  to  answer  them,  exclaim- 
ed :  "  Oh  !  the  sterile  regions  of  the  barbarians,  which 
produce  not  the  necessaries  of  life.  Strange  that  the 
inhabitants  have  not  long  ago  died  of  hunger  !"  Some 
idea  may  be  formed  of  the  enormous  consumption  of 
this  article,  when  it  is  stated  that  a  ship  load  of  12,000 
piculs  of  133!  3  pounds  each,  or  more  than  a  million  and 
a  half  of  pounds  of  rice,  does  not  equal  the  amount 
consumed  in  the  city  of  Canton  in  a  single  day.  At 
the  south,  two  crops  of  rice  and  one  of  vegetables  are 
raised  upon  the  same  spot  of  ground  in  a  year,  and  as 
might  be  expected  in  a  country  where  the  ground  is 
urged  to  the  utmost,  all  kinds  of  manure  arc  in  demand. 
Decayed  animal  and  vegetable  matter,  sweepings  of 
streets,  the  mud  from  ditches,  burnt  bones  and  lime, 
and  even  barbers'  shavings,  which  are  not  inconsidera- 


104  CHINESE     MUSEUM     CASE     XI. 

ble,  as  millions  of  heads  are  shaved  every  ten  days,  are 
industriously  gathered  and  sold ;  but  the  collections 
from  sinks  and  other  animal  manure  is  esteemed  the 
highest,  and  mixed  with  loamy  earth,  and  dried  in  small 
masses  in  the  sun,  it  forms  a  considerable  article  of 
commerce.  In  towns  and  on  rivers  the  whole  atmos- 
phere seems  at  times  to  be  impregnated  with  the  odor 
left  by  passing  scavengers,  who  pay  little  attention  to 
the  olfactory  nerves  of  less  interested  persons.  Every 
farm  is  furnished  with  a  cistern  in  which  the  manure  is 
dissolved  and  kept  until  required  for  use.  It  is  not 
mixed  with  the  soil,  but  universally  applied  to  the  plant 
itself  in  a  liquid  state,  and  most  seeds  are  steeped  in  it 
previous  to  being  sown. 

What  few  diminutive  horses  and  cows  the  Chinese 
have,  are  pastured  on  waste  land  incapable  of  cultiva- 
tion. They  have  no  good  land  to  spare  for  animals, 
all  is  needed  for  the  support  of  man.  In  consequence 
of  this  very  few  can  afford  to  eat  animal  food,  and 
Davis  says  that  there  is  no  people  in  the  world  who  eat 
so  little  meat  or  so  much  fish  and  vegetables  as  the 
Chinese.  The  tax  on  land  is  part  in  kind  and  part  in 
money,  but  the  sum  is  small,  and  reduced  considerably 
or  remitted  altogether  in  case  of  destructive  drought  or 
inundation.  The  farms  are  generally  small  and  with- 
out fences,  being  usually  divided  by  ditches,  but  the  low 
wet  lands  where  rice  is  cultivated,  are  divided  by  nar- 
row embankments  which  are  used  as  walks  and  means 
of  communication  between  villages.  No  wide  roads 
are  seen  at  the  south,  or  indeed  needed,  as  wheel  car- 
riages are  not  used. 

In  addition  to  the  chain  pump  for  irrigating  their 
fields,  the  Chinese  have  several  other  simple  machines 
for  the  same  purpose.  The  principal  of  these  is  a 
wheel,  sometimes  forty  feet  in  diameter,  which,  with 
the  exception  of  the  shaft  and  supports,  is  made  entirely 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XI.  105 

of  bamboo.  The  paddles  are  of  basket  work,  and  some 
bamboo  tubes  open  at  one  end,  and  fastened  on  to  the 
circumference  of  the  wheel,  tangent  to,  or  diagonally 
across  it,  take  up  the  water  from  the  stream,  (in  which 
the  wheel  is  placed,  and  turned  by  the  current  striking 
the  paddles,)  and  carrying  it  to  the  top  of  the  wheel, 
discharge  it  into  a  gutter  which  conveys  it  to  the  place 
required.  It  is  calculated  that  some  of  these  wheels 
raise  upwards  of  three  hundred  tons  of  water  to  the 
height  of  forty  feet  in  twenty-four  hours. 

The  mills  used  by  the  Chinese  for  making  flour  are 
made  of  two  stones,  (usually  a  hard  granite)  with  the 
faces  grooved  like  our  mill  stones,  and  the  top  one 
turning  round  an  iron  pin  fastened  into  the  lower  one. 
The  hopper  is  fastened  to  the  upper  stone  over  a  small 
hole  a  little  one  side  of  the  centre.  Most  of  these  mills 
are  small  and  turned  by  a  single  person  ;  but  the  public 
ones  are  usually  turned  by  buffaloes,  a  few  only  by  water 
power.  In  the  two  first  mentioned,  the  upper  stones 
are  turned  by  levers  fastened  to  them,  and  in  the  buf- 
falo mills  the  animals  (one  to  each  run  of  stones)  walk 
around  in  circles  twelve  feet  in  diameter,  seven  or  eight 
times  a  minute.  Four  buffaloes  working  by  turns  at 
one  run  of  stones  will  grind  from  three  to  four  hundred 
pounds  of  grain  per  day.  In  the  water  power  mills  the 
upper  stones  have  sticks  fastened  into  the  circumfer- 
ence which  act  as  cogs,  and  which  are  turned  by  simi- 
lar sticks  fastened  into  the  shaft  of  the  water-wheel. 
The  water-wheels  generally  used  are  overshot,  and  a 
run  of  stones  turned  by  one  of  them  usually  grinds  six 
or  seven  hundred  pounds  of  grain  in  twenty-four  hours. 
These,  like  the  few  other  machines  used  by  the  Chinese, 
are  of  the  simplest  kind,  but  their  tools  and  agricultural 
implements  appear  to  be  particularly  designed  to  direct 
labor  not  to  supersede  it.  If  improvements,  manifest 
and  simple,  are  proposed  to  a  Chinese,  the  proposer  is 


106  CHINESE    MUSEU  M C  A  S  E    XII. 

immediately  referred  to  ancient  custom,  and  the  usage 
of  his  fathers,  or  perhaps  to  the  fear  of  being  squeezed 
by  the  Mandarins,  and  this  is  an  end  to  all  controversy. 
Educated  to  reverence  antiquity,  and  to  think  the 
usages  and  productions  of  the  Celestial  Empire  perfec- 
tion, the  force  of  custom  on  the  minds  of  the  Chinese 
is  a  great  bar  to  their  improvement.  Experience  has 
shown,  that  a  supply  of  food  can  be  procured,  and  a 
numerous  population  supported  by  an  adherence  to  the 
ancient  mode,  and  a  Chinaman  is  the  last  person  to 
waste  either  land  or  labor  in  venturesome  experiments. 


CASE    XII. 


Carpenter,  saiving. 

do.      planing,  with  bench  and  tools  complete. 

Travelling  blacksmith,  tcith  his  forge,  belloivs  and  other 
apparatus,  mending  a  cast  iron  vessel. 

Itinerant  Shoemaker,  with  his  kit,  at  work. 

Over  head  is  a  large  rush  umbrella,  such  as  is  seen  cov- 
ering small  movable  establishments  of  various  kinds  in 
the  streets  and  market-places  of  Canton. 

In  China,  the  sawyer's,  the  carpenter's,  the  joiner's, 
and  the  sashmaker's  trade  are  all  exercised  by  the  same 
person.  There  are  no  saw-mills,  planing  machines,  or 
sash  factories,  and  in  sauntering  about  the  streets  of  the 
cities,  at  the  door  of  a  shop,  or  new  building,  may  be 
seen  one  or  two  men  sawing  boards  from  the  logs,  and 
inside  other  workmen  manufacturing  them  into  the 
different  forms  for  constructing  or  finishing  a  house. 
Their  carpenter's  tools  are  few,  peculiar,  and  rudely 
made  ;    but  the  work   done  with  them,  although  not 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XII.  107 

equal  to  that  of  our  mechanics,  made  with  more  perfect 
instruments,  is  probably  much  superior  to  what  they 
could  produce  with  similar  ones.  The  peculiarity  of 
their  tools  will  be  immediately  noticed  by  a  mechanic  ; 
the  handsaw  resembles  our  bucksaw,  except  that  the 
blade  stands  at  an  angle  to  the  frame,  the  plane,  from 
its  diminutive  size,  looks  like  a  plaything,  and  is  used, 
as  seen  in  the  hands  of  one  of  the  figures,  the  chisels 
and  gouges  are  few  and  have  very  short  blades,  the 
rough  wooden  drill-stock,  with  a  bamboo  bow  and  dart- 
shaped  drills,  answers  instead  of  gimblets,  a  bolt  and 
ring  serves  to  draw  nails,  as  the  clumsy  looking  hatchet 
does  to  drive  them  ;  the  adze,  with  its  wooden  head,  is 
a  curiosity  from  the  economy  of  iron  evinced  in  its 
construction,  and,  like  many  other  things,  the  exact  op- 
posite to  ours,  the  line  for  marking  boards,  &c.  is  black 
instead  of  white.  This  marking  apparatus  is  a  conve- 
nient affair ;  the  line  is  wound  on  a  spool,  fastened  in 
a  small  box,  and  turned  with  a  wire  crank  ;  when  drawn 
out  it  passes  through  some  cotton  containing  moistened 
India  ink,  which  is  also  used  with  a  slip  of  bamboo  for 
marking  as  a  pencil,  a  small  weight  fastened  to  the  end 
of  the  line  keeps  it  from  being  drawn  into  the  box  and 
serves  as  a  plummet. 

A  Chinese  mechanic  knows  jiothing  about  augers, 
braces  and  bits,  gimblets,  drawing  knives,  spoke  shaves, 
and  the  host  of  other  tools  used  with  us  to  save  labor 
and  economize  time.  These  are  not  desideratums  to 
the  myriads  of  China  who  overcome  physical  obstacles, 
like  insects,  by  dint  of  numbers,  but  economy  of  mate- 
rials is  the  great  object.  Their  pay  will  not  admit  of 
their  spending  hundreds  of  dollars  for  tools,  their  chest 
and  all  the  contents,  they  can  easily  carry  in  one  hand 
to  the  place  where  required  for  use,  and  if  they  need  a 
hole  larger  than  can  be  made  with  a  drill,  they  have 
the  time  to  make  it  with  a  chisel  or  gouge. 


108  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XII. 

The  traveling  blacksmith  is  engaged  in  the  celebrated 
operation  of '  welding  cast  iron,''  as  it  has  been  incor- 
rectly called,  but  which  as  the  observer  will  notice  is 
nothing  more  than  filling  up  a  crack  (made  wider  for 
the  purpose)  in  a  broken  cast  iron  vessel  with  drops  of 
the  same  metal  in  a  melted  state  which  are  pressed 
down  on  each  side  with  the  rolls  of  cotton  cloth  which 
he  has  in  his  hands.  After  filling  the  fracture  in  this 
manner  it  is  rubbed  over  with  clay  to  stop  up  any  re- 
maining small  holes. 

The  blacksmith's  tools  are  more  portable  than  a  per- 
son would  expect  they  could  be  made;  his  bellows  has  no 
unnecessary  machinery  or  finish  about  it.  It  is  usually 
made  of  the  section  of  a  tree  bored  out  and  a  piston  fit- 
ted to  it,  which,  being  moved  to  and  fro,  by  the  handle 
at  one  extremity,  the  air  is  alternately  forced  out  and 
drawn  in  at  each  end ;  thus  making  the  blast  nearly,  but 
not  quite,  continuous.  His  furnace  is  small,  but  large 
enough  for  all  the  work  required  of  him,  and  with  the 
baskets  containing  his  hammers,  scraper,  files,  and  fuel, 
and  when  he  moves,  his  forge  and  bellows,  slung  at  each 
end  of  a  pole  on  his  shoulder,  he  trudges  about  from 
place  to  place,  seeking  employment.  Most  of  the  metal 
work  of  the  Chinese  which  will  admit  of  it,  is  finished 
by  scraping  instead  of  filing  or  polishing. 

The  honest  shoemaker,  who  sits  beside  his  brother 
vulcan,  has  suspended  operations  upon  the  old  shoe  be- 
tween his  knees,  and  is  looking  very  wisely  through  his 
large  spectacles  at  the  cast  iron  vessel  which  the  knight 
of  the  hammer  and  tongs  is  repairing.  There  are 
4,200  shoemakers  in  Canton,  many  of  whom  belong  to 
the  wandering  class,  and  hardly  a  street  can  be  passed 
but  one  of  them  is  seen  industriously  plying  his  trade. 

The  number  of  persons  engaged  in  different  mechan- 
ical employments  in  the  city  of  Canton  is  estimated  at 
24-6,000,  and  each  of  the  respective  trades  form,  to  a 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XII.  109 

certain  degree,  a  separate  community,  and  have  each 
their  own  laws  and  rules  for  the  regulation  of  their  busi- 
ness. The  wages  of  journeymen  carpenters,  black- 
smiths, and  mechanics  of  that  class,  are  from  fifteen  to 
twenty-five  cents  a  day  and  boarded.  Wood  carvers 
get  from  eighteen  to  forty  cents  and  found,  and  ivory 
carvers  from  twenty  to  sixty  cents.  Mechanics  eat  three 
meals  a  day,  viz  :  at  7,  A.  M.,  1,  P.  M.  and  6,  P.  M. 
The  food  consists  principally  of  rice,  with  a  little  fish  or 
pork  to  season  it,  and  a  few  greens.  Each  person  will 
eat  on  an  average  a  catty  (equal  to  a  pound  and  a  third) 
of  rice  at  a  meal,  and  the  daily  expense  for  each  indi- 
vidual's food  does  not  exceed  ten  cents.  All  mechanics 
work  from  seven  in  the  morning  until  sundown. 

Such  large  umbrellas  as  the  one  overhead  in  this  case, 
are  generally  seen  protecting  a  number  of  half  naked 
beings,  from  the  rays  of  the  sun,  who  are  gambling  for 
the  value  of  a  cash  (the  tenth  part  of  a  cent)  in  pea  nuts, 
or  something  of  equal  worth,  and  crowding  around  the 
board  underneath,  the  lookers  on  evince  as  much  anxi- 
ety as  if  they  had  an  interest  in  the  valuable  stake. 
Some  of  these  establishments  remain  stationary  for  a 
considerable  length  of  time,  unless  disturbed  by  the 
Mandarins,  and  are  enclosed  at  night  with  a  screen- 
work  of  bamboo,  which  rolls  up  into  a  compact  form  in 
the  day  time. 

The  lower  orders  of  Chinese  are  much  addicted  to 
gambling,  which  is  a  vice  chiefly  confined  to  them,  and 
notwithstanding  the  law  to  the  contrary,  in  the  more  re- 
tired streets  of  the  cities  are  gambling  houses  where 
these  wretches  congregate.  The  most  common  game 
is  that  of  quadrating  cash,  which  consists  in  throwing 
down  a  handful,  or  an  unknown  number  of  cash,  small 
stones,  or  bits  of  crockery  and  counting  them  out  by 
fours.  This  game  is  called  '  cha  tanj  and  the  issue  de- 
pends on  the  remainder  bet  upon.     Ten,  twenty,  and 


110  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XIII. 

more  men  are  often  seen  around  a  table,  different  mem- 
bers of  the  group  exhibiting  all  the  passions  of  the  gam- 
bler— fear,  hope,  success  or  disappointment,  as  they  win 
or  lose  alternately. 


CASE    XIII. 


Tanka  boat  woman  sculling,  with  an  infant  on  her  back. 

do.     do.  girl  rowing. 
Small  boy  with  float  tied  to  his  back,  playing. 
Tanka  boat  complete. 
Elegant  model  of  a  nine  storied  pagoda. 
Baskets  and  bird  cases  made  of  bamboo. 
Lacquered  baskets,  &c.  much  used  by  the  Chinese. 
Ladies'1  and  gentlemen's  dressing  cases. 

The  first  object  which  meets  the  eye  in  visiting 
China  is  the  barren  looking  coast ;  the  next  the  fishing 
smacks ;  and  the  next  the  tanka  (egg  house)  boats  who 
swarm  round  vessels  coming  to  anchor,  the  inmates  all 
screeching  at  once  in  a  jargon  difficult  to  be  under- 
stood by  a  new  comer,  but  which  is  soon  learned. 
Every  one  is  dignified  with  the  title  of  '  Massa  Cap'n,' 
and  uMy  poaty  la,  My  poaty  la  Massa  Cap^n !  My  sobby 
youfacytlue  old  tim  Massa  Cap^n  /"  is  generally  the 
burthen  of  their  song.  In  Macao  roads,  where  ves- 
sels usually  stop  before  proceeding  up  to  the  Canton 
anchorage,  the  tanka  boats  are  generally  navigated  by 
young  girls,  in  competition  with  whom  the  old  women 
meet  with  poor  encouragement.  The  boat  seen  in  this 
case  was  purchased  from  the  family  who  were  using  it 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE      XIII.        Ill 

at  the  time  on  the  river  at  Canton,  and  is  of  the  ordi- 
nary size  seen  at  Macao,  but  not  quite  as  large  as  some 
of  the  same  class  at  Whampoa  and  Canton.  At  the 
latter  place  there  are  84,000  registered  boats  upon  the 
river,  most  of  which  are  these  tanka  boats,  in  which  a 
man,  unless  a  passenger  is  seldom  seen  in  the  day  time. 
The  fathers  of  the  families  residing  in  them  are  gener- 
ally fishermen,  boatmen,  or  coolies,  whose  employments 
calPthem  away,  and  who  are  obliged  to  leave  their 
boats  and  families  in  charge  of  the  mothers,  who  in  ad- 
dition to  taking  care  of  them  often  raise  some  ducks  or 
chickens  for  sale  in  small  coops  hanging  over  the  sterns 
of  the  boats.  These  boats  are  generally  kept  much 
cleaner  than  Chinese  dwellings  on  land  and  in  common 
with  their  other  vessels  as  well  as  houses,  every  one  has 
a  shrine  and  Jos,  or  representation  of  one,  before  which 
ajos  stick  is  kept  continually  burning,  and  morning  and 
evening  a  general  chin  chinning,  (as  they  call  their  noisy 
worship,)  consisting  of  the  beating  of  gongs  and  burn- 
ing of  paper,  takes  place  to  propitiate  their  idols.  The 
females  who  live  in  these  boats  appear  to  be  out  of  their 
element  when  on  land,  and  by  the  running  pace  at 
which  they  move  seem  to  be  afraid  some  accident  will 
befall  them  before  reaching  their  boats.  The  mode  of 
carrying  infants  tied  on  to  the  back  is  universal  in 
China,  and  resembles  the  same  custom  amongst  our 
Indians.  The  larger  children  generally  carry  the  in- 
fants, and  those  not  higher  than  a  walking-stick,  are 
often  seen  with  babies  strapped  on  to  their  backs. 
Most  of  the  small  children  have  floats  made  of  light 
wood,  or  a  bottle  gourd  tied  to  their  backs  to  keep  them 
from  sinking  if  they  fall  into  the  water,  which  they  sel- 
dom do,  although  they  appear  to  move  about  in  the 
most  careless  manner.  It  is  said  that  in  case  they  fall 
overboard,  in  addition  to  a  ducking,  they  get  flogged, 
which  makes  them  more  careful   in  future.     Chinese 


112  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XIII. 

boats  are  principally  propelled  by  sculling  oars  at  their 
sterns,  which  work  on  pivots  with  very  little  friction  and 
noise.  Some  of  the  large  passenger  boats  have  four  or 
more  large  sculls,  (each  worked  by  ten  or  a  dozen  men,) 
two  placed  at  the  sides  of  the  sterns,  and  the  others  at 
stagings  on  the  sides.  When  moving  at  full  speed, 
these  boats  go  as  if  urged  by  steam  power.  The  oars 
or  sculls  are  all  made  of  two  pieces,  fastened  together 
with  rattans. 

This  case  contains,  in  addition  to  the  boat,  a  large 
and  a  beautiful  model  of  a  nine  storied  pagoda.  These 
lofty  edifices,  towering  to  the  skies,  constitute  one  of 
the  beauties  of  a  Chinese  landscape.  There  appears 
to  be  some  doubt  concerning  their  origin,  but  the  suppo- 
sition is  that  they  are  monuments  of  Budhism,  as  many 
of  them  have  temples  dedicated  to  Budha  in  their  vicin- 
ity, and  some  of  them  contain  Budhistic  idols.  That 
they  are  intimately  connected  with  the  superstitions  of 
the  Chinese,  and  that  they  suppose  them  to  exert  a  sal- 
utary influence  upon  the  country  surrounding  them, 
there  can  be  no  doubt,  from  the  tenor  of  the  subscrip- 
tion papers  occasionally  circulated  by  the  literati  and 
gentry  for  their  repair.  The  following  is  a  translation 
of  one  issued  at  Canton,  taken  from  the  Chinese  Re- 
pository:— "  Fellow-countrymen  !  The  region  of  coun- 
try southeast  of  the  provincial  city,  on  account  of  its 
water  courses,  has  an  important  influence  on  the  for- 
tunes of  the  inhabitants.  From  an  examination  of  old 
records  it  appears  that  the  pagoda  on  Pachow  and  the 
adjacent  temple,  were  built  in  the  twenty-fifth  year  of 
Wanleih  ;  and  that  the  pagoda  at  Cheikang,  and  the 
temple  there  consecrated  to  the  god  of  letters,  were 
founded  in  the  reign  of  Teenke  ;  all  these  structures 
have  had  a  most  happy  influence  on  every  thing  around 
them,  causing  the  number  of  literati  to  be  very  numer- 
ous, and  the  productions  of  the  soil  most  abundant. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XIII.  113 

Recently,  however,  the  winds  and  the  rains,  driving 
furiously,  have  broken  down  the  tops  of  the  pagodas, 
and  laid  the  temples  in  ruins,  and  injured  even  their 
foundations.  Their  appearance  now  is  very  unsightly; 
they  ought  to  be  repaired,  in  order  to  secure  the  return 
of  happy  and  prosperous  times.  The  pagoda  on  the 
north  of  the  city,  which  rises  five  stories  high,  and  has 
its  walls  painted  red,  a  color  which  is  from  its  very  na- 
ture productive  of  fire,  ought  also  to  be  repaired,  and 
painted  with  some  other  color.  Already  we  have  ob- 
tained the  permission  of  their  excellencies,  the  governor 
in  council,  to  proceed  with  the  contemplated  repairs, 
and  also  recommendatory  papers  in  which  they  advise 
the  people  to  assist  in  accomplishing  this  work.  It  be- 
ing an  affair  which  greatly  concerns  both  our  honor  and 
prosperity,  we  have  a  right  to  expect,  fellow-country- 
men, that  you  will  heartily  cooperate,  joyfully,  and 
promptly  contributing,  little  or  much,  according  to  your 
ability,  so  that  by  our  united  efforts  the  repairs  may  be 
soon  undertaken,  and  the  buildings  rise  again  to  their 
former  splendor !  Then,  according  to  your  deeds  of 
merit,  the  gods  will  send  prosperity,  and  your  glory  and 
virtue  will  become  great  beyond  comprehension.  A 
special  solicitation." 

Chinese  pagodas  vary  in  height  and  the  number  of 
stories,  but  rank  amongst  the  most  durable  structures  of 
the  country.  The  most  celebrated  is  the  famous  por- 
celain tower  at  Nanking.  This  building  is  nine  stories, 
and  rises  two  hundred  feet  from  the  ground.  The  body 
is  of  blue  brick,  covered  with  porcelain  tiles. 


15 


114  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XIV. 


CASE    XIV. 

150  and  151.  A  pair  of  the  largest  size  porcelain  vases, 
painted  to  represent  some  of  the  battles  fought 
in  ancient  times  between  the  Tartars  and  Chi- 
nese. These  paintings  are  preferred  in  China 
to  the  more  modern  styles,  and  are  not  fanciful 
caricatures,  as  supposed  by  many.  The  repre- 
sentation of  similar'scenes  is  one  of  the  princi- 
pal attractions  of  the  Chinese  stage  at  the  pres- 
ent day,  and  the  actors  dress  in  the  ancient  cos- 
tumes as  seen  on  these  and  other  articles  of 
Chinese  porcelain. 

152  and  153.  A  pair  of  vases  similar  to  the  above,  of 
the  next  size  smaller. 

154  and  155.  A  pair  of  porcelain  vases  of  the  third  size, 
elegantly  painted  with  single  figures. 

156.  Finely  gilt  blue  porcelain  jar  for  powdered  sugar, 
called  "ping-fa"  "chrystal  flowers." 

157  and  158.  A  pair  of  common  flower  stands. 

159  and  160.  A  pair  of  hexagonal  light  green  porce- 
lain garden  seats,  with  delicate  white  raised 
sprigs  and  flowers. 

161  and  162.  A  pair  of  blue  porcelain  garden  seats  with 
white  raised  figures. 

163.  Beautifully  painted  porcelain  garden  seat,  hex- 
agonal form. 

164  and  165.  A  pair  of  blue  porcelain  "  tom-tos"  or 
spittoons,  with  raised  white  flowers. 

166  and  167.  A  pair  of  handsome  enameled  copper 
spittoons. 

168  and  169.  A  pair  of  fine  enameled  candlesticks  used 
as  part  of  the  furniture  of  Budhistic  Altars. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE    XIV.  115 

170.  A  large  and  beautiful  enameled  copper  vase,  used 

to  burn  incense  in  before  the  idols  of  Budha. 

171,  172,  173  and  174.  Two   pair  of  small  porcelain 

vases. 
175  and  176.  A  pair  of  yellow  porcelain  cap  stands, 

with  raised  figures  of  parrots,  &c. 
177  and  178.  A    pair   of   antique    six-sided    porcelain 

vases. 
179  and  180.  A  pair  of  fine  painted  square  porcelain 

vases. 
181  and  182.     A  pair  of  bottle  shaped  porcelain  vases, 

richly  painted. 
183  and  184.  A  pair  of  five  necked  green  flower  vases. 

These  are  sometimes  used  by  Chinese  archers 

to  try  their  skill  in  shooting  their  arrows  into 

the  different  necks. 
185.  Handsome   painted    porcelain   flower  vase,  with 

raised  figure  of  a  lizard  encircling  the  neck. 
186  and  187.  A  pair  of  porcelain  cap  stands,  made  in 

imitation  of  pieces  of  bamboo  tied  together. 

188.  Two  beautiful  enameled  tea  trays. 

189.  Enameled  Jos  vase  to  hang  on  the  wall  beneath 

the  painting  of  an  idol.  This  is  made  in  the 
form  of  half  an  oo-loo  or  bottle  gourd,  a  Chi- 
nese emblem  of  longevity. 

190.  A   beautiful  enameled  blue   and  gilt  holy  water 

vase,  used  by  the  Budhists. 

191.  Enameled  tea-pot  with  stationary  handle. 

192.  Small  enameled  flower  vase. 

193.  Three  enameled  plates  of  different  patterns,  and 

one  enameled  tea-tray. 
The  manufacture  of  porcelain  originated  in  China, 
and  commenced  with  the  Tang  dynasty,  A.  D.  630. 
The  first  furnace  on  record  was  in  Keang-se,  the  prov- 
ince where  it  is  now  principally  made.  In  ancient  times 
it  was  called  "  imitation  gem  ware."   For  the  last  thou- 


116  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XV. 

sand  years  the  government  has  paid  great  attention  to 
the  manufacture  of  porcelain,  and  some  of  the  Emperors 
have  given  large  premiums  for  the  best  specimens.  In 
point  of  substance  it  has  never  yet  been  surpassed,  al- 
though the  advances  made  in  the  science  of  chemistry, 
and  in  the  art  of  painting,  by  Europeans,  has  enabled 
them  to  excel  the  Chinese  in  the  coloring  and  the  exe- 
cution of  the  paintings.  Notwithstanding  the  perfection 
to  which  Europeans  have  attained  in  the  manufacture 
of  China  ware  within  the  comparatively  few  years  since 
its  introduction,  they  still  purchase  considerable  of  the 
Chinese,  and  the  value  still  keeps  up,  especially  of  the 
large  articles,  as  an  instance«of  which  it  may  be  stated 
that  such  jars  as  the  large  ones  in  this  case,  cost  from 
two  to  three  hundred  dollars  a  pair,  in  China,  according 
to  the  perfection  of  the  shape  and  the  beauty  of  the 
painting  when  taken  from  the  furnace.  Some  idea  may 
be  formed  of  the  extent  of  the  manufacture  when  it  is 
mentioned  that  several  hundred  thousand  workmen  are 
employed,  and  the  fires  of  the  furnaces,  when  seen  from 
a  distance  at  night,  are  said  to  resemble  a  city  envelop- 
ed in  flames. 


CASE    XV. 

The  interior  of  this  case  is  filled  with  Chinese  musi- 
cal instruments.    On  the  top  are  several  porcelain  vases. 

194.  Kara  or  Kin,  "the  lute."  This  is  more  esteemed 
than  any  other  musical  instrument  of  the  Chi- 
nese ;  partly  on  account  of  its  antiquity.  A 
native  writer  says  it  is  called  Kam  (to  prohibit) 
because  "  it  restrains  and  checks  evil  passions, 
and   corrects  the  human  heart."     It  is  made 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XV.  117 

from  the  wood  of  the  ivoo-lung  or  Dyandria 
cordifolia,  its  strings  are  of  silk,  and  it  is  said 
to  discourse  most  excellent  music,  but  the  diffi- 
culty of  playing  upon  it  is  so  great,  that  "  every 
tune  that  a  Chinese  learns  costs  him  the  labor 
of  several  months." 

195.  Haijoong-Kok  or   Wa-Kok.      This   instrument   is 

used  in  Budhist  temples  to  call  the  inmates  to 
their  evening  devotions,  and  also  in  the  army, 
as  the  drum  is  with  us,  to  mark  the  morning 
and  evening  hours. 

196.  Chang.     A  smaller  species  of  lute  than  the  Kam. 

It  has  sixteen  strings  and  is  generally  seen  in 
the  hands  of  blind  musicians  who  use  their  long 
finger  nails  or  some  substitute  as  a  plectrum. 

197.  Pi-pa.     The  balloon  shaped  guitar.     This  is  also 

made  of  the  woo-tung  wood.  The  plane  upper 
surface  is  left  without  varnish,  and  is  let  into 
the  rounded  back.  The  strings  are  of  silk,  as 
were  those  of  the  ancient  lute  used  in  Europe, 
and  the  pi-pa  is  said  by  Mr.  Lay  to  correspond 
exactly  to  the  harp  of  Pythagoras  in  the  out- 
line. It  is  one  of  the  most  common  accompa- 
niments to  the  voice  of  ballad  singers. 

198.  Ut-Kam.     The  full  moon  guitar.     "  This  is  made 

of  the  Swan-che  wood,  and  has  four  strings 
which  stand  in  pairs  and  are  unisons  with  each 
other.  The  table  is  not  coated  with  varnish, 
lest  it  should  hurt  the  sound.  Our  violins  never 
acquire  their  purest  tones  till  they  have  lost  the 
best  part  of  their  varnish;  would  it  not  be  as 
well  to  take  a  leaf  out  of  the  Chinaman's  book, 
and  bestow  all  the  ornament  upon  the  neck  and 
back,  but  leave  the  sounding-board  untouched." 

199.  Luk-Koo.     A  call  used  by  pedlars  of  cloth,  &c. 

From  morning  till  night  the  clicking  of  the  Luk- 


118  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XV. 

koo  is  heard  in  the  streets  of  Chinese  towns, 
accompanied  by  cries  of  the  different  kinds  of 
pedlars. 

200.  Sam-ecn.     Three  stringed  guitar.     "  This  is  made 

of  the  Swan-che  wood,  its  sounds  are  low  and 
dull,  and  it  is  played  as  an  accompaniment  to 
the  pi-pa.  The  body  is  covered  with  the  skin 
of  the  tan  snake,  of  which  the  natural  vestment 
is  divided  by  cloudy  lines  of  brown  and  yellow 
into  compartments.  The  jerkin  of  this  snake, 
we  see,  helps  to  make  melody  after  its  decease, 
and  its  liver  is  much  prized  by  the  dealers  in 
medicines." 

201.  Ee-een.     The  two-stringed  fiddle.     The  rebeck 

of  the  Chinese.  Some  Ee-eens  are  made 
merely  of  a  stick  of  bamboo  passing  through  a 
hollow  cylinder  of  the  same  material,  but  this 
one  is  of  rather  better  construction.  "  One  end 
of  the  cylinder  is  covered  with  snake  skin  and 
the  other  is  left  open.  The  bow  is  in  all  its 
original  simplicity  being  a  piece  of  rattan  or 
bamboo,  with  its  ends  drawn  towards  each 
other  by  a  small  bundle  of  horse-hair  which 
passes  between  the  strings,  and  it  requires  no 
little  practice  to  keep  them  clear  of  one  while 
being  drawn  over  the  other,  as  they  are  near 
together.  As  it  is  a  cheap  instrument,  it  is  in 
the  hands  of  a  great  many  learners,  who  fill  up 
the  vacuity  of  their  leisure  moments  by  grating 
the  strings  of  this  scrannel  coagmentation  of 
silk  and  wood.  In  better  hands,  however,  its 
notes  though  shrill  and  piercing,  are  by  no 
means  contemptible.  It  will  be  seen  that  this 
instrument  embodies  the  principle  of  the  violin, 
which  is  comparatively  a  modern  instrument, 
its  great   powers   and   capabilities   being  first 


CHINESE'  MUSEUM  CASE  XV.      119 

pointed  out  by  Tartini.  The  Chinese  were  in 
possession  of  the  idea  ages  ago,  but  while  the 
Italians  labored  to  give  the  original  draft  every 
perfection  it  was  susceptible  of,  the  eastern 
Asiatics  left  theirs  to  enjoy  its  primitive  sim- 
plicity." 

202.  Tai-Kam.     The  bass  fiddle.     This  is  very  much 

like  the  ee-een,  except  that  the  drum  is  made  of 
cocoa  nut  shell  instead  of  bamboo,  and  its 
notes  are  gruffer.  These  two  instruments  are 
almost  the  only  ones  among  the  Chinese  that 
are  played  with  a  bow. 

203.  Taoong-Kam.  The  wire  strung  harmonicon.  The 

strings  are  beaten  with  small  slips  of  bamboo, 
and  in  skilful  hands  emit  sweet  music. 
203.  Shap-yam.  An  instrument  made  of  ten  small 
gongs  arranged  in  a  frame  shaped  like  a  cross. 
This  is  carried  in  marriage  processions  and  used 
as  an  accompaniment  to  other  instruments. 

205.  Chat-lcok.    The  clarion.    This  instrument  is  made 

of  thin  copper,  and  the  upper  part  of  the  stem 
slides  into  the  lower  to  enable  the  performer  to 
modify  the  sounds,  which  are  very  grave. 

206.  Wang-teh.     The  Chinese  flute.    "  This  is  made 

of  bamboo,  bound  with  silk  between  the  aper- 
tures to  preserve  the  wood  from  cracking,  and 
helps  doubtless  to  sweeten  the  sound.  It  is 
with  this,  as  with  the  guitar  and  lute,  that  the 
Chinese  dame  cheers  and  beguiles  the  lonely 
and  unexciting  hours  of  her  seclusion." 

207.  Ho-toong.     Trombone   trumpet.     The   sounding 

tube  of  this  instrument  is  capable  of  being 
lengthened  and  shortened  at  the  will  of  the  per- 
former. Its  sounds,  like  those  of  our  trombone, 
are  not  very  agreeable  alone,  but  form  a  proper 


120  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XV. 

relief  to  the  shriller  instruments  when  blown  in 
concert. 

208.  Sang.     This  is  a  collection  of  tubes  varying  in 

length,  so  as  to  utter  sounds  at  harmonic  inter- 
vals from  each  other,  thus  embodying  the  prin- 
ciple of  the  organ  stops,  and  with  the  wind 
chest,  into  which  the  tubes  are  inserted,  forms 
the  embryo  of  that  magnificent  instrument. 
Very  few  of  the  Chinese  of  the  present  day  un- 
derstand the  use  of  this  instrument,  which  was 
used  in  ancient  times  in  the  performance  of  re- 
ligious rites. 

209.  Hayoong-lo.     Small   gong  used  with  other  instru- 

ments by  bands  of  music  during  marriage  en- 
tertainments. 

210.  Nam-ling.     Small   gong  suspended  in  a  metalic 

frame,  used  by  Budist  priests. 
211  and  212.   Tan-ta,  and  Tong  Koo,     Gongs  used  in 

concert  with  other  instruments. 
The  gong  is  a  favorite  instrument  with  the  Chinese. 
The  large  ones  are  heard  in  their  morning  and  evening 
devotions,   they  precede  processions  of  all  kinds,  and 
drown  all  other  noises  in  bands  of  music. 
213  and  214.  Cymbals.     These  add  to  the  din  kept  up 

with  gongs  in  bands  of  music  upon  the  stage. 

215.  Seaou-Soo-lo.     A  small  gong  used  in  concert  with 

other  instruments. 

216.  Tong-Koo.     The  concert  drum. 

217.  Luk-Koo.     A  call  similar  to  199. 

218.  FVai-Koo,  "  flat  drum."     "  This  is  much  used  by 

blind  singers,  who  saunter  through  the  streets 
in  the  night.  These  singers  are  also  the  tellers 
of  old  stories.  Many  of  them  are  poor  female 
children,  early  trained  to  this  business,  by  which 
they  procure  support  for  their  parents,  some- 
times, as  well  as  for  themselves." 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XV.  121 

219.  Mar-lo.     Beggar's  gong. 

220  and  221.  Heang-lek.  "This  possesses  all  the  es- 
sential pnrts  of  the  clarionetexcept  the  finish  and 
the  sweetness  of  its  sound.  It  is  a  great  favor- 
ite among  the  Chinese,  who  are  so  charmed 
with  its  loud  and  deafening  sounds,  they  make 
it  the  principal  on  all  occasions,  either  of  joy 
or  sorrow.  It  is  heard  at  funeral  processions, 
it  takes  a  part  at  marriage  entertainments,  and 
leads  in  the  musical  companies  both  at  the  the- 
atre and  in  the  temple." 

222.  Nam-Sing.     Bell  used  by  Budhist  priests  in  their 

worship.  Among  the  instruments  of  percussion 
used  by  the  Chinese,  the  great  bell  claims  the 
first  place,  as  all  other  instruments  were  tuned 
by  this.  It  was  also  used  in  ancient  times  as  the 
standard  of  weight  and  measure.  The  Chinese 
bell  has  no  clapper,  but  is  struck  with  a  wooden 
hammer.  It  is  seen  in  all  the  principal  temples, 
hung  in  a  large  wooden  stand,  and  is  struck 
upon  at  vespers,  and  at  other  times,  when 
prayers  are  offered  up.  The  bell  is  an  eastern 
invention,  and  was  used  many  centuries  before 
it  was  known  in  the  west. 

223.  Puk-eu,  "  divining  fish."    This  instrument  is  used 

in  the  recitation  of  prayers,  both  private  and 
public,  by  the  Budhistic  priests,  for  the  purpose 
of  marking  time. 

224.  Pin-koo.     The  low  drum.    This  and  the  pong-koo 

are  used  together  in  a  chorus,  the  singers  beat- 
ing them  with  small  bamboo  sticks.  They  give 
out  a  peculiar  clinking  sound,  not  generally 
agreeable  to  the  ears  of  others  than  Chinese, 
till  use  and  association,  ingredients  in  taste,  have 
made  it  so. 


122  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE    XV. 

225.   Tong-heng.     This  metalic  instrument  is  also  used 
by  the  Budhist  priests,  to  mark  time  while  chant- 
ing their  prayers. 

"  As  lovers  of  pleasure,  the  Chinese  have  always  had 
great  respect  for  music,  one  of  its  principal  promoters; 
and  for  tones  and  rythm,  the  two  essential  elements  of 
music  and  of  song,  they  manifest  great  fondness.  '  In- 
deed it  appears  that  the  ancient  sages  of  China  were 
not  only  extremely  fond  of  what  they  esteemed  good 
music,  but  that  they  believed  it  to  have  a  powerful  in- 
fluence over  the  morals  of  the  people.  It  is  said  that 
Coniucius  was  so  powerfully  struck  with  the  music  of 
the  great  Shun,  that  for  three  months  after  he  heard  it, 
he  knew  not  the  taste  of  his  food.'  Their  writings  on 
the  subject  of  music,  though  hard  to  be  understood,  are 
very  numerous ;  and  they  contain  records  of  the  art,  in 
the  earliest  periods  of  their  history,  accompanied  with 
drawings  and  descriptions  of  their  instruments.  Many 
of  the  most  ancient  are  now  disused,  and  '  according  to 
their  own  account  their  music  at  present  is  far  inferior 
to  what  it  was  in  the  golden  ages  of  antiquity.' 

11  The  rules  for  writing  instrumental  music  among 
the  Chinese  change  somewhat  according  to  the  instru- 
ment employed  ;  thus  the  lute  requires  a  very  different 
system  of  notation  from  the  guitar  ;  and  both  from  the 
rebeck.  In  the  notation  adopted  for  the  lute,  'each 
note  is  a  cluster  of  characters ;  one  denotes  the  string, 
another  the  stud,  a  third  informs  you  in  what  manner 
the  fingers  of  the  right  hand  are  to  be  used,  a  fourth 
does  the  same  in  reference  to  the  left,  a  fifth  tells  the 
performer  in  what  way  he  must  slide  the  hand  before  or 
after  the  appropriate  sound  has  been  given,  and  a  sixth 
says,  perhaps,  that  two  notes  are  to  be  struck  at  the 
same  time.'  On  account  of  this  clumsy  mode  of  nota- 
tion, but  few  Chinese  learn  to  play  the  lute  scientifi- 
cally." 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XVI.  123 

226.  Beautiful  porcelain  vase,  with  the  surface  purposely 

cracked  in  burning.  The  Chinese  affirm  that 
the  art  of  making  this  kind  of  ware  has  been 
lost  for  several  hundred  years. 

227.  Light   green   porcelain  vase,    with  raised   white 

figure. 

228.  Very  ancient  surface  cracked  porcelain  vase,  dis- 

colored by  time. 


CASE    XVI. 


229.  Large  gilt  figured  envelopes  for  marriage  letters. 

230       "  "  letter  paper    "  « 

Exchanged  by  the  parents  of  the  bride  and 
groom  and  sent  accompanied  by  the  marriage 
presents. 

231.  Smaller  gilt  figured  marriage  envelopes. 

232.  "  "  letter  paper  for  same  use  as 
230. 

233.  White  letter  paper,  with  blue  title-page,  for  com- 

munications and  petitions  to  government  offi- 
cers. 

234.  Red  letter  paper,  with  dark  blue  title-page,  for 

communications  between  Mandarins. 
235  and  236.  Figured  red  letter  paper. 

237.  Plain  red  letter  paper. 

238.  Figured  white  letter  paper. 

239  and  240.  Figured  and  plain  mourning  letter  paper. 

241  and  242.         "  "         envelopes    for    letters. 

2i3.  Mourning  envelopes. 

244,  215,  and  246.  Name  strips  for  envelopes. 

247.  Figured  fancy  colored  note  paper. 

248  and  249.  Plain  red  and  mourning  cards. 

250.  Small  red  cards. 


124  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XVI, 

251.  Small  red  envelopes  and  name  strips. 

252.  Letter  from  an  officer  in  the  province  of  Honan, 

to  Dr.  Parker,  the  American  medical  mission- 
ary, at  Canton,  stating  his  case  and  soliciting 
his  advice. 

253.  254,  and  255.  Envelope  of  letter  from  Wong  (2d 

Imperial  Commissioner,)  to  Dr.  Parker;  the 
letter,  and  copy  of  Keying's  despatch  to  the 
Emperor,  accompanying  the  treaty  with  the 
United  States. 

256.  Envelope  of  an  official  document  from  the  Impe- 

rial Commissioner,  Keying,  to  the  Hon.  Caleb 
Cushing,  Minister  Plenipotentiary  from  the 
United  States  to  China. 

257.  Envelope  of  an  official  document  from  the  Tsoong- 

to  of  Canton,  to  Paul  S.  Forbes,  Esq.  American 
Consul  at  Canton. 

258.  Facsimilie  of  Keying's  Tartar  signature  as  affixed 

to  the  treaty  between  China  and  the  United 
States.  The  first  character  is  the  signature, 
and  the  second  or  lower  one  is  the  flourish. 

259.  The  Imperial  Commissioner  Keying's  card. 

260.  The  card  of  Wong-gan-toong  the  second  Com- 

missioner. 

261.  262,   and  263.    The   cards   of  Chow-chan-ling, 

Pwan-sz-shing  or  Pvvan-tin-qua,  and  Tung-lin, 
the  Mandarins  or  high  officers  attached  to  Key- 
ing's suite.  It  will  be  noticed  that  Pwan-tin- 
qua'scard  has  a  drab  colored  strip  upon  it  upon 
which  his  name  is  inscribed.  He  was  still  in 
mourning,  at  the  time  this  card  was  presented, 
for  his  mother  who  died  nearly  a  year  before. 
The  Chinese  ritual  prescribes  the  time  of  mourn- 
ing for  a  parent,  which  is  nine  months  or  thrice 
ninety  days,  during  which  time  goverment 
officers  retire  from  office. 


CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE    XVI.  125 

264.  Stereotype  block  for  two  pages  of  a  Chinese  book. 

All  the  printing  is  done  in  China  with  such 
blocks  as  this.  They  have  no  movable  types  ; 
but  the  American  missionaries  at  Macao  and 
Hong-Kong  are  printing  books  in  Chinese  with 
movable  types  made  in  France. 

265.  Seals  for  the  use  of  merchants. 

266.  Handsome  carved  blocks  for  printing  labels. 

267.  Block  for  printing  invitations  to  marriage  enter- 

tainments. 

268.  Stamps  used  by  shopmen. 

269.  Canton  court  circular,  containing  only  the  move- 

ments of  the  various  government  officers. 

270.  Copy  of  the  Peking  Gazette,  issued  at  Canton 

every  other  day.  This  one  contains  dates  from 
Peking,  eighty  days  previous  (Canton  is  about 
as  far  from  Peking  as  New  Orleans  is  from  New 
York.)  There  is  no  freedom  of  the  press  in 
China.  The  newspapers  contain  only  such  in- 
formation as  the  government  sees  fit  to  have 
published  to  suit  its  own  purposes. 

271.  Different  kinds  of  theme  paper  used  at  the  literary 

examinations  of  candidates  for  the  different  de- 
grees necessary  for  them  to  attain  before  be- 
coming eligible  to  office. 

273.  Account  books  of  various  sizes. 

274.  White  envelopes  with  red  name  strips. 

275.  Faint  ruled  theme  paper. 

276.  Ruled  account  paper. 

277.  Specimens  of  handsome  characters  made  by  a  cel- 

ebrated Canton  scribe  named  Chung-uk-shung. 

278.  Characters  for  children  to  copy. 

279.  Chinese  Almanac,  for  1844. 

280.  "  "  arranged  to  resemble 
a  boy  leading  a  buffalo. 


126  CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE    XVII. 

231.  Divining  book  to  consult  when  throwing  the  bam- 
boo slips  used  in  Jos  houses  or  temples  to  as- 
certain the  lucky  days  for  marriages,  building 
houses,  &x. 

282.  Chinese  Arithmetic. 

283  and  284.  Ancient  characters  and  their  meaning 
explained. 

285.  Picture  book  used  to  learn  children  the  names  of 

things. 

286.  Directions  for  holding  the  pencil  for  different  kinds 

of  writing.     The  Chinese  are  great  admirers  of 
caligraphy,  and   indeed  one  of  the  essentials  at 
the  literary  examination  is  an  elegantly  written 
theme. 
The  manufacture  of  paper  and  the   art  of  printing 
both  originated  in  China,  the  former  being  first  made 
by  the  Chinese,  A.  D.  95,  and  the  art  of  manufacturing 
is  transmitted  by  the  Arabs  (who  learnt  it  from  the  Chi- 
nese) into  Spain  about  the  beginning  of  the  10th  cen- 
tury, and  the  latter  invention,  which  was  first  introduced 
to  the  notice  of  the  Chinese    government  about  the 
middle  of  the  10th  century,  was  first  brought  to  notice 
in  Europe   in   1440,  and  introduced   into   England  in 
1470.    Before  the  invention  of  paper  the  Chinese  wrote 
upon  slips  of  flattened  bamboo  which  they  formed  into 
books  by  fastening  them  together  with  wires. 


CASE   XVII. 


This  case  contains  a  beautiful  model  of  a  two  story 
summer  house,  as  seen  in  the  southern  provinces  of 
China,  with  small  figures  of  a  lady  and  gentlemen. 
There  are  also  a  number  of  flowers  made  of  rice  paper 
and  other  ornaments  for  the  hair  made  of  feathers  in 


CHINESE   MUSEUM CASE  XIX.    127 

imitation  of  flowers,  birds  and  insects.     On  the  top  of 
this  case  are  several  finely  painted  porcelain  vases. 


CASE    XVIII. 


Contains  a  model  of  a  silk  store  in  Canton.  Arti- 
ficial flowers  made  of  silk  and  rice  paper,  and  a  fan 
made  of  the  feathers  of  the  Argus  pheasant.  On  the 
top  of  this  case  are  also  several  porcelain  vases. 


CASE    XIX. 


Contains  a  model  of  a  China  ware  and  curiosity 
shop  in  New  China  street,  Canton,  an  ornamental  fan 
made  of  Peacocks  feathers,  and  one  made  of  the  feath- 
ers of  the  Argus  Pheasant.  There  are  two  pair  of  ele- 
gant five  necked  porcelain  flower  vases,  and  a  pair  of 
beautifully  painted  single  necked  ditto,  on  the  top  of 
this  case. 

Chinese  stores,  like  the  houses,  are  ordinarily  but  one 
story  high,  but  some  of  the  handsomest  are  two  stories. 
Nearly  all  are  destitute  of  yards,  and  have  only  a  plat- 
form upon  the  roof  where  the  fuel  is  kept  for  cooking, 
which  is  done  in  the  attic.  In  the  cities  the  ground,  in 
business  localities,  is  covered  with  stores,  and  they  are 
universally  lighted  by  sky-lights  in  the  roof,  as  seen  in 
the  models  here  exhibited. 


128        CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XX. 


CASE    XX. 

The  upper  part  of  this  case  contains  plates  of  vari- 
ous patterns  made  of  brass  enameled. 

287.  Enameled  cup  with  cover. 

288,  289.  Small  enameledh  and  spittoons  used  in  bed, 

and  carried  by  the  attendants  of  gentlemen  for 
the  use  of  their  masters. 

290.  Enameled  cream  cup,  an  article  made  for  export. 

as  the  Chinese  do  not  use  cream  or  milk  as  a 
beverage. 

291.  Enameled  stand  for  writing  pencils  and  dust  brush, 

a  part  of  a  gentleman's  writing  apparatus. 

292.  Curious  enameled  fruit  shaped  tea  pot.     The  tea 

is  put  in  at  the  bottom  the  vessel  it  having  no 
opening  at  the  top  to  admit  the  escape  of  the 
aroma  of  the  tea. 

293.  Sweetmeat  box  made  of  enameled  ware. 

294.  Vessel  for  hot  Sam-shou,  the  liquor  distilled  from 

rice  by  the  Chinese. 

295.  Enameled  plate  used  in  making  offerings  of  fruits 

and  cakes  before  idols. 

296.  Elegant  enameled  vessel  for  holding  Sam-shou, 

also  called  Su-hing  hot  wine,  used  at  entertain- 
ments. 
297  to  299.  Covered  enameled  tea  cups. 

300.  Enameled  milk  cup. 

301.  Enameled  plate  for  same  use  as  295. 

302  to  304.  Set  of  small  enameled  incense  vessels  used 
upon  family  altars. 

305.  Beautiful   small   enameled   bowl  for  holy  water. 

Used  by  Budhists. 

306.  Enameled  sugar  bowl. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XX.  129 

307.  Small  enameled  catty  for  fine  tea. 

308,  309.  Small  hand  spittoons. 
310.  Same  as  307. 

311  to  315.  Enameled  plates  of  the  ordinary  size  used 
at  table  by  the  Chinese  to  contain  the  relishes 
of  pork,  fish,  &c,  eaten  with  their  rice.  Each 
person  is  furnished  with  a  bowl  for  rice  and 
with  his  chopsticks  takes  from  time  to  time 
some  of  the  contents  of  the  plates  which  are 
used  in  common. 

316.  Small  enameled  sugar  bowl, 

317.  Small  enameled  saucer  of  a  peculiar  and  ancient 

form  which  the  Chinese  consider  lucky. 
318  to  321.  Enameled  plates  of  various  patterns. 
322  to  324.  Enameled  saucers  of  various  patters. 
325,326.  Similar  to  317. 
327.  Similar  to  324. 
328  to  330.  Enameled  tobacco  boxes.  Tobacco  is  only 

used  by  the  Chinese  for  smoking  and  snuffing. 

331.  Enameled  pencil  stand  with  water  vessel  attached 

to  it  for  mixing  India  ink. 

332,  333.  Enameled  pencil  rack  and  stand. 

334.  Enameled  rice  bowl. 

335,  336.  Boxes  made  of  enameled  ware  for  betel  nut, 

tobacco,  &c. 
337,  338.  Enameled  tea  cups  and  saucers. 
339.  Small  rice  bowl  curiously  enameled. 
340  to  342.  Enameled  tea  cups  and  saucers. 
343,  344.  Beautiful  blue  and  gold  enameled  boxes  for 

tobacco. 
345.  Enameled  cup  for  drinking  Sam-shou. 
346  to  351.  Beautifully  painted  porcelain  tea  cups  with 

metallic   saucers   and    covers   to   prevent   the 

escape  of  the  aroma  of  the  tea. 
352.  Mended  cup  and  saucer  exhibiting  the  Chinese 

method  of  repairing  procelain,  glass,  &c. 


130  CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE    XX. 

353.  A  set  of  enameled  sweetmeat  dishes  made  to  fit  a 
circular  tray. 

354  to  357.  Enameled  cups  and  saucers  of  small  di- 
mensions for  drinking  hot  Sam-shou  and  very 
fine  tea. 

358,  359.  Enameled  saucers  of  peculiar  forms. 

360.  Enameled  Chinese  spoon. 

361,  362.  A   pair  of  elegant   porcelain   arm  supports 

used  on  large  settees. 

363.  Porcelain  rice  bowl  within  a  porcelain  hot  water 

vessel. 

364.  A  set  of  porcelain  medicine  boxes. 

365.  Ancient  incense  vessel  in  the  form  of  a  Unicorn 

on  a  stand.     The  incense  is  placed  in  the  in- 
terior and  the  fumes  exhale  from  the  mouth. 

366.  Grotesque  Chinaware  image  used  as  a  pillow. 
367,371.  Elegant  metallic  vessels  for  containing  Sam- 
shou  used  at  feasts  and  universally  drank  hot. 

368  to  370.  Curiously  shaped  metallic  cups  for  drink- 
ing Sam-shou. 
369.  Metallic  lamp  stand. 

372.  Same  as  366. 

373.  Same  as  365. 

374.  375.  Two  elegant  porcelain  tea  trays. 

376,  377.  A  pair  of  small  porcelain  flower  stands. 
378,  379.  Straight  jars,  made  of  porcelain,  for  holding 

writing  pencils. 
380,  381.  A  pair  of  beautiful  flower  vases  of  small  size. 
382,  383.  Curious  formed  and  painted  porcelain  vases. 
384,  385.  A  pair  of  handsomely  painted  flower  vases. 
386,  387.  A  pair  of  superb  porcelain   flower  jars,  in 

which  the   leaves   of  flowers  are   placed,  the 

perfume   escaping  through  the  perforations  in 

the  covers. 
388.  Porcelain  image  of  the  Budhist  goddess  Shing- 

Moy  "  Holy  Mother,"  with  a  child  in  her  arms 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XX.  131 

holding  a  sceptre.     The   attributes  of  this  hea- 
then   goddess   strongly  resemble  those  of  the 
Virgin  Mary. 
389,  390.  Tea  pot  and  Sam-shou   vessel  made  of  blue 
stone  ware. 

391.  Beautiful  painted  porcelain  sugar  bowl. 

392,  393.  Porcelain  tea  and  Sam-shou  vessels. 

394  to  396.     Set  of  small  porcelain  incense  vessels. 
397.  Porcelain   vessel,  the  upper  part  of  which  is  used 

for  medicine,  and  the  lower  as  a  spittoon. 
398  to  401.  Porcelain  tea  pots  of  different  construction. 

402.  Small  unglazed   porcelain  vessel  for  the  prepara- 

tion of  ginseng. 

403.  Wooden  case  for  tea  vessel   used  in  stores  and 

houses  to  keep  tea  warm. 

404.  Stone  ware  sweetmeat  jar. 

405.  Small  tea  pot  made  of  red  glazed  porcelain. 

406.  Common  hand  furnace  made  of  an  earthen  ves- 

sel, to  contain  the  coals,  fitted  into  a  bamboo 
basket,    used   by   the   poorer   classes   in   cold 
weather. 
In  the  north  of  China  houses  are  heat  by  flues  pas- 
sing under  the  tile  floors,  and  couches  made  of  brick 
are  heated  in  a  similar  manner,  but  at  the  south  fires 
are  only  used  for  cooking,  the  body  being  kept  warm, 
by  putting  on  additional  clothing  as  cold  weather,  which 
is  not  very  severe  or  of  long  continuance,  approaches. 
At  Canton  the  mercury  seldom  falls  below  the  freez- 
ing point,  and  it  has  snowed  but  once  at  that  place  in 
a  great  many  years. 

407.  408.  Fanciful   shaped    vessel   for   holding    water 

used  to  grind  ink  used  in  writing. 

409.  Tea  pot  made  of  common  ware  in  the  shape  of  a 

melon. 

410.  Blocks  made  of  the  root  of  the  bamboo  ;  used  in 

temples  to  ascertain   whether  the  prayers  of 


132  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XX. 

suppliants  will  be  answered  favorably  or  not. 
The  petitioner  kneeling  before  the  altar  drops 
the  blocks  upon  the  pavement,  if  one  falls  with 
the  round  side  up  and  the  other  the  flat,  it  is 
considered  favorable,  but  if  otherwise,  the  re- 
verse. 

411.  Handsome  case  containing  a  tea  vessel  above  and 

a  stone  ware  receptacle  for  coals  below.  Every 
store  and  house  is  furnished  with  something  of 
this  kind  for  the  use  of  the  inmates  and  visitors. 
The  Chinese  warm  all  their  drinks,  considering 
cold  ones  unhealthy. 

412.  Curious  tea  pot  made  of  common  ware  in  the 

form  of  a  pomegranate. 

413.  An  image  of  one  of  the   Budhist  deities  holding 

aloft  the  mystical  diagram  made  by  the  ancient 
Emperor  Fuhi.  Used  to  protect  houses  from 
evil  influences.  The  Emperor  Fuhi  or  Fohy 
is  considered  by  some  Chinese  historians  as  the 
founder  of  the  Empire.  Before  he  appeared 
they  say  men  differed  not  from  brutes,  but  he 
civilized  them,  and  after  making  the  eight  mys- 
tical diagrams,  of  which  the  Chinese  write  and 
talk  much  but  know  little,  he  proceeded  to  in- 
vent the  written  character.  The  commence- 
ment of  his  reign  is  placed  2852  B.  C,  and  it 
is  in  the  province  of  Honan  where  he  built  his 
capital  that  the  Chinese  fix  the  site  of  that  first 
settlement  from  whence  have  sprung  all  the 
successive  dynasties  and  all  the  countless  mul- 
titudes of  the  black  haired  people,  which  dur- 
ing a  period  of  forty-seven  centuries,  have  rul- 
ed and  cultivated  the  hills  and  vallies  of  the 
Celestial  Empire. 

414.  Porcelain  medicine  jar. 

415.  Small  tea  pot  of  curious  construction  for  making 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XXII.  133 

a  cup  of  tea  expeditiously  by  placing  a  lamp 

underneath. 
416.  Common  ware  tea  vessel  for  the  use  of  stores  and 

houses. 
On  the  top  of  this  case  are  eight  elegant  porcelain 
jars  of  various  patterns. 


CASE    XXI. 


Contains  a  model  of  a  canal  boat,  such  as  the  tea  is 
brought  to  Canton  in  ;  some  artificial  fruits,  head  or- 
naments made  of  feathers,  and  two  fans  so  made  that 
when  opened  in  one  direction  are  whole,  but  if  opened 
the  other  appear  broken.  A  large  number  of  these  ca- 
nal boats  are  always  to  be  seen  in  the  Canton  waters. 
They  are  excellent  cargo  boats,  and  peculiarly  adapted 
to  the  shallow  inland  waters  and  canals,  where  they  are 
pushed  along  by  the  men  with  bamboo  poles,  or  tracked 
with  ropes.  They  have  peculiar  masts,  which  can  be 
taken  down  and  put  up  with  facility,  which  enables 
them  to  take  advantage  of  the  winds  in  large  streams. 
The  top  of  this  case  is  covered  with  porcelain  vases. 


CASE    XXII. 


Contains  a  model  of  a  Nanking  junk,  and  a  num- 
ber of  specimens  of  artificial  fruits. 

The  hulls  of  all  junks  are  shaped  very  much  like  a 
Chinese  shoe,  but  they  differ  considerably  in  their  upper 


134         CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XXII. 

works  and  embellishments.  The  Nanking  junks  are  per- 
haps the  handsomest.  "  The  model  from  which  a  junk 
was  first  derived,  is  said  by  the  Chinese  to  have  been  a 
monstrous  fish  ;  the  fancied  resemblance  is  kept  up  in 
the  eyes,  the  mouth  and  teeth,  painted  on  the  bow,  a 
frisking  tail  in  the  high  stern,  &c."  Like  all  other 
Chinese  vessels  the  junks  are  without  keels,  and  draw 
very  little  water,  on  which  account  they  fall  to  lee- 
ward in  head  winds,  and  are  obliged,  in  their  trading 
voyages,  to  take  advantage  of  the  monsoons  or  periodi- 
cal winds  which,  on  the  coast  of  China,  blow  steadily 
for  several  months  in  one  direction,  and  then  change 
and  blow  in  an  opposite  one.  The  art  of  navigation 
appears  to  have  been  on  the  decline  in  China  for  sev- 
eral centuries,  as  it  is  well  known  that  the  Chinese  once 
navigated  as  far  as  India,  while  at  present  their  most 
distant  vovages  extend  no  farther  than  Java,  and  the 
Malay  islands  to  the  south.  They  have  no  instruments 
for  calculating  the  latitude  or  longitude,  but  are  guided 
by  the  compass  between  the  prominent  headlands  ;  of 
which,  together  with  the  harbors,  currents  and  shoals 
on  the  coast,  they  possess  tolerably  accurate  directories. 
The  sails  of  all  Chinese  vessels  are  made  of  mats,  the 
ropes  and  cables  of  split  rattans  and  coir,  or  the  husk 
of  the  cocoa  nut,  and  the  anchors  of  a  heavy  hard  wood, 
called  by  the  Chinese  teih-mo^  "iron  wood."  The  ac- 
count which  Mr.  Gutzlaff  gives  of  the  manning  and  dis- 
cipline of  the  trading  jnnks,  in  which  he  made  several 
voyages,  explains,  in  part,  the  loss  of  so  many  at  sea. 
"  Besides  the  principal  owner  of  the  cargo,  or  agent  for 
those  who  own  it,  there  is  the  captain  or  pilot.  He  sits 
constantly  on  the  weather  side  of  the  vessel,  observing 
the  shores  and  promontories  as  they  are  approached, 
and  from  habit  seldom  lies  down  to  sleep.  Though  he 
has  the  nominal  command  over  the  sailors,  who  are  the 
offscourings  of  the  Chinese  population,  they  obey  him 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XXIII.         135 

or  not,  according  to  their  pleasure,  and  sometimes  scold 
or  brave  him  like  one  of  their  own  number.  Next  to 
the  pilot  is  the  helmsman,  who  manages  the  steering 
and  sails.  Besides  clerks  for  the  cargo,  there  is  a  pur- 
chaser of  provisions,  and  another  whose  express  business 
it  is  to  attend  to  the  offerings  to  the  gods  and  goddesses. 
The  crew  consists  of  two  classes :  the  able  seamen,  who 
are  called  Tow-mo,  "heads  and  eyes,"  and  the  ordinary 
seamen  called  FokVs  "  comrades."  Every  one  is  a 
shareholder,  with  the  privilege  of  putting  a  certain  quan- 
tity of  goods  on  board.  The  principal  object  of  all 
is  trade,  and  the  working  of  the  junks  would  seem  to 
be  a  subordinate  point.  The  crew  exercise  full  con- 
trol over  the  vessel,  and  oppose  every  measure  which 
they  deem  injurious  to  their  own  interest ;  so  that  the 
captain  and  pilot  are  often  obliged  to  submit  to  them. 
In  time  of  danger  the  men  often  lose  all  courage ;  and 
their  indecision,  with  the  confusion  which  attends  the 
absence  of  discipline,  not  unfrequently  proves  the  des- 
truction of  the  junk." 

On  the  top  of  this  case  are  several  porcelain  vases 
and  two  China  ware  fountains,  sometimes  used  as  flower 
pots,  made  to  represent  rocky  hill  sides,  with  castles, 
temples,  &c. 


CASE    XXIII. 


Contains  a  model  of  a  Mandarin  boat  or  revenue 
cutter. 

The  Mandarin  boats,  called  by  the  Chinese  "  fast 
crabs,"  and  "scrambling  dragons,"  are  intended  by  the 
government  for  the  suppression  of  opium  smuggling  on 
the  rivers,  but  are  said  to  be  oftener  used  for  smug- 


136      CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XXIV. 

gling,  or  for  collecting  from  smugglers  a  certain  amount 
for  every  chest  of  opium  they  are  allowed  to  run  in, 
which  amount  goes  into  the  pockets  of  the  Mandarins 
having  them  in  charge. 

The  top  of  this  case  is  covered  with  porcelain  vases 
and  China  ware  fountains  similar  to  those  on  the  pre- 
vious case. 


CASE    XXIV. 


417.  Gentlemen's  embroidered   pockets   worn   at   the 

waist  in  front  under  the  upper  garment. 

418.  Gentlemen's  embrodered  pockets  for  keys. 

419.  Gentlemen's  embroidered  double  pockets  for  betel 

nut,  &c. 

420.  Gentlemen's  embroidered  watch  pockets. 
Those  who  can  afford  it  usually  carry  two  watches, 

one  on  each  side.  A  Chinese  being  asked  the  reason 
answered  "  S'pose  one  catchy  litty  sick  inside,  other  can 
walky." 

421.  Embroidered  head  bands  for  ladies. 

422.  Stamped  leather  spectacle  cases. 

423.  Embroidered  cases  for  spectacles. 

424.  Large  embroidered  pocket. 

425.  Waist  ornaments  worn  by  gentlemen. 

426.  Embroidered  sashes  for  ladies. 

427.  Gentlemen's   embroidered   woolen  cap    worn  in 

in  cold  weather. 

428.  Gentlemen's  embroidered  tobacco  pouches,  sus- 

suspended  at  the  waist. 

429.  Ornamental   embroidered  scent   bags  carried  by 

gentlemen  at  the  waist. 

430.  Silk  bandage  for  small  feet. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XXV.         137 

431.  Embroidered  fan  cases.     These  articles  form  a 

part  of  the  waist  ornaments  worn  by  gentlemen 
who  all  carry  fans. 

432.  Embroidered  scarlet  worsted  pockets. 

433.  Silk  crape  breast  pieces  worn  in  cold  weather. 

434.  Embroidered  knee  pans  padded  with  cotton  and 

worn  in  winter. 

435.  Embroidered  knee  pans  for  summer  wear. 

436.  Black  silk  handkerchief  with  white  figure  ;  carri- 

ed by  bridegrooms. 

437.  Printed  crape  door  cover. 
433.  Child's  head  dress. 

439.  Budhist  canonical  head  dress  with  embroidered 

images  of  the   "precious  Budhas"  sitting  on 
the  flowers  of  the  lotus  or  sacred  water  lilly. 

440.  Silk  garters  worn  by  gentlemen. 

441.  442.  Chinese  stockings. 

443.  Cap  worn  by  Budhist  priests  on  festival  days. 

444.  Ordinary  cap  worn  by  Budhist  priests. 
445  to  447.   Children's  embroidered  caps. 

448.  Different   kinds  of  caps  worn  by  gentlemen  in 

winter. 

449.  Gentlemen's  summer  caps  made  of  horse  hair. 

450.  Boy's  caps. 

451.  Mourning  caps. 

452.  Felt  caps. 

453.  Velvet  collars  worn  in  winter  by  gentlemen. 


CASE    XXV. 


453.  Image  of  a  Chinese  sage,  carved  from  a  root  of 

the  bamboo. 

454.  Beautiful  carved  king  wood  cap  stand. 


]  38         CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XXV. 

455.  Large  and  elegant  bronze  incense  vase  with  carv- 

ed wood  cover  and  stand. 

456.  Budhist  idol  carved  from  the  root  of  the  bamboo. 

457.  Beautiful  carved  wood  stand  and  tree  with  bronze 

images  of  an  old  man,  a  stork  and  a  deer,  em- 
blematic of  long  life  and  happiness. 

458.  Figure  of  an  elephant  and  his  master  handsomely 

carved  from  a  bamboo  root. 

459.  Fine  red  lacquered  incense  vessel  in  the   form   of 

an  Oo-loo  or  bottle  gourd  which  is  considered 
by  the  Chinese  an  emblem  of  longevity. 

460.  Similar  to  454. 

461.  Figure  of  a  Chinese  sage  riding  on  a  deer,  carved 

from  a  bamboo  root. 

462.  Magic  mirror  on   carved  stand.     Some  of  these 

mirrors  possess  the  curious  property  of  reflecting 
an  image  on  a  wall,  of  the  raised  figures  on  the 
back  from  the  surface.  The  body  of  the  mirror 
and  the  figures  are  supposed  to  be  made  of 
metals  of  different  reflective  powers,  and  the 
figures  to  extend  through  the  mirror  to  the  face, 
which  being  polished,  renders  their  outlines 
invisible  to  the  eye. 

463.  Budhist  idol,  with  a  Joo-ee  or  sceptre  in  his  hand, 

riding  upon  a  buffalo.  Carved  from  a  bamboo 
root. 

464.  Bronze  image  of  Budha. 

465.  Parrot  carved  from  the  root  of  the  bamboo. 

466.  Vine  pattern  stand  elaborately  carved  out  of  king 

wood. 

467.  Beautiful  leaf  pattern  bronze  holy  water  vase  on  a 

finely  carved  stand. 

468.  Elegantly  carved  cup  made  from  the  horn  of  the 

rhinoceros,  on  a  carved  king  wood  stand. 
These  cups  were  sent  to  government  officers 
in  ancient  times  by  the  Emperors,  as  marks  of 


CHINESE  MUSEUM 


CASE  XXV.    139 


displeasure  to  be  followed  by  removal  from 
office. 

469.  Bronze  elephant  and  figure. 

470.  Triple  ornamental  carved  wood  stand  with  varie- 

gated marble  tops. 

471.  Representation  of  a  hill  with  temples,  devotees, 

&.C,  elaborately  carved  from  a  bamboo  root. 

472.  Temple  and  figures  carved  in  bamboo. 

473.  Image  of  a  Budhist  Jos  or  God,  beautifully  carved 

in  a  fine  yellow  wood  resembling  English  box. 

474.  Elegant  bronze  vase  of  small  size,  on  stand. 

475.  Double  ornamental  stand  with  marble  tops. 

476.  Grotesque  image  carved  from  a  bamboo  root. 

477.  Bronze  incense  vessel  in  the  form  of  a  duck  on  a 

handsome  carved  stand.  The  incense  is  placed 
within  the  body,  the  smoke  escaping  through 
the  mouth. 

478.  Bronze  image  of  Kuan-yim,  the  goddess  of  mercy, 

on  carved  stand. 

479.  Double  marble  top  stand,  similar  to  475. 

480.  Temple  and  figures  carved  from  a  bamboo  root. 

481.  482.   .Machine  toys  made  at  Nanking. 

483.  Chinese   compass.      The  polarity  of  the   needle 

was  probably  discovered  in  China  as  it  is  ex- 
plicitly noticed  in  a  Chinese  dictionary  finished 
A.  D.  121,  and  previous  to  4l9,  it.  was  mod  by 
them  to  guide  ships. 

484.  Similar  to  481  and  482. 

485.  Large  Chinese  compass. 

486.  Carved  stone  Jos  or  idol. 

487.  Small  tea-pot  made  of  a  brown  ware,  much  es- 

teemed by  the  Chinese,  and  beautifully  painted 
in  enamel. 

488.  Sword  made  of  ancient   Chinese  coin,  supposed 

by  that  superstitious  people  in  b<  ui\  <  1]  ca- 
cious  in   keeping   away   ghosts  and  generally 


140  CHINESE      MUSEUM —  CASE     XXV. 

suspended  at  the  head  of  their  couches  for  that 
purpose. 
439.  Tea-pot  similar  to  437. 

490.  Lacquered  letter  box. 

491.  Compass  and  sun  dial. 

492.  Tea-pot  made  of  fine  brown  ware. 

493.  Model  of  a   two  storied  pagoda  carved  out  of 

stone. 

494.  Small  brown  earthen  ware  tea-pot. 

495.  Compass  and  perpetual  almanac. 

496.  Nanking  machine  toy. 

497.  Small  clay  toy  images  from  Nanking. 

498.  Small  carved  stone  image. 

499.  Toy  buffalo  made  of  clay. 

500.  Tea-cups  finely  carved  from  cocoa-nut  wood  and 

lined  with  metal. 

501.  Handsome  small  brown  ware  tea-pot. 

502.  Small  grotesque  image  carved  out  of  stone. 

503.  Beautiful  carved  stone  image. 

50i.   Small  hexagonal  stand  carved  out -of  king  wood. 

505,  507,  509.  Nanking  machine  toys  of  different  con- 

struction. These  toys  contain  machinery  in- 
side, and  when  wound  up  possess  the  power  of 
locomotion  for  a  short  time. 

506.  Small  lacquered  tobacco-box. 

508.   Large  brown  ware  tea-pot  handsomely  painted. 

510.  Chopsticks  and  knife  in  a  shark  skin  case.    Worn 

by  gentlemen  suspended  at  the  girdle  and  used 
to  eat  with. 

511.  Elaborately  carved  ivory  fan. 

512.  Beautifully  engraved  tortoise  shell  paper  cutter. 

513.  514.  Ivory  puzzles  of  different  construction. 

515.  Small  Chinese  compass. 

516.  Grotesque  carved  ivory  letter  stamp. 

517.  Ink  stone  box  with  the  cover  ornamented  with  a 

vine  and  flowers  made  of  pearl  in  relief. 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XXV.  141 

518.  Superbly  carved  sandal  wood  letter  rack. 

519.  Chopsticks  and  knife  in  a  tortoise  shell  case. 

520.  Chastely  ornamented  feather  fan  with  ivory  frame. 

521.  523.   Handsomely  carved  ivory  paper  cutters. 

522.  Engraved  tortoise  shell  se^ar  case. 

524.  Silver  basket  with  gold  and  enameled  ornaments. 

A  most  elegant  specimen  of  Chinese  fillagree 
work. 

525.  Carved  sandal  wood  case  containing  a  pair  of 

chopsticks,  knife  and  toothpick. 

526.  Handsome  lacquered  card  case. 

527.  Curious  tea-pot  made  of  metal  and  lined  with 

earthen  ware,  the  handle  and  end  of  the  spout 
being  made  of  jade  stone. 

528.  Carved  ivory  counter  box. 

529.  Stone  pencil  holder. 

530.  Carved  cocoa-nut  wood  tea-cups,  with  metallic 

linings. 

531.  Carved  pearl  card  case. 

532.  Round  carved  ivory  counter  box. 

533.  Handsome  carved  ivory  puzzle  and  box. 

534.  Large  ivory  basket,  most  exquisitely  carved. 

535.  Belt  clasp  used  by  government  officers. 

536.  Carved  stone  pencil  stand. 

537.  Hexagonal  carved  king  wood  stand  of  small  size. 

538.  Engraved  tortoise  shell  covered  book  containing 

small    figures   of  Chinese,  made  of  silk  with 
painted  ivory  faces. 

539.  Gilt  silver  arm  ring  worn  by  Chinese  ladies. 

540.  Small   handsomely  carved  stand,  made  of  king 

wood. 

541.  Ivory  puzzle. 

542.  Neatly  carved  ivory  letter  stamp. 

543.  Pearl  letter  stamp. 

544.  Splendidly  carved  ivory  card  case. 


142  CHINESE      MUSEUM  CASE      XXV. 

545.  Finely  carved  gentlemen's  waist  ornament  made 

of  Yu  or  Jade,  a  stone  highly  prized  by  the 
Chinese  and  very  costly. 

546.  Silver  arm  ring  or  bracelet. 

547.  An  elegant  carved  tortoise  shell  card  case. 

548.  532.  A  pair  of  small  handsome  king  wood  stands. 

549.  Snuff  bottle. 

550.  553.  Small  lacquered  tobacco  boxes. 

551.  Thumb  rin£  worn  bv  archers. 

55\.  Beautiful  ivory  model  of  a  flower  boat,  with  fig- 
ures, furniture,  &.c.  complete. 
355.  Curious  ivory  letter  stamp. 

556.  Elegant  carved  ivory  frame  with  a  figure  of  a  lady, 

reclining  on  a  couch  carved  in  ivory  and  paint- 
ed on  one  side,  and  a  looking  glass  on  the  other. 

557.  Book  containing  diagrams  of  puzzles. 

558.  Small  mirror  with  back  handsomely  carved  in  ivory 

and  painted. 

559.  Large  and  finely  carved  ivory  ball,  containing  six- 

teen other  balls  inside,  curiously  carved  outof 
a  solid  piece  of  ivory. 

560.  Very  finely  carved  ivory  case  for  a  snuff  bottle. 

561.  562.  Small  carved  ivory  balls. 

563.  Toy  buffalo,  made  of  clay,  with   boy  on  his  back 

flying  a  kite. 

564.  Grotesque  carved  ivory  letter  stamp. 

565.  Waist  ornament  worn  by  gentlemen. 

566.  Small  Sam-shou  cups  made  of  cocoa   nut  wood. 

lined  with  metal. 

567.  Small  gilt  porcelain  tea-pot. 

568.  Ivory  letter  stamp,   with  ball  handle,  containing 

several  concentric  spheres  within. 

569.  Small  Nanking  clay  toys. 

570.  Snuff  bottle. 

571.  Carve  I  cocoa  out  wood  tea  cup.-. 

572.  Small  brown  ware  tea  pot. 


CHINESE     M68E0M  —  CASE     XXV.  1 43 

573.  Very  small  clay  toys  made  at  Nanking. 

574.  Carved  bone  fan. 

575.  Grotesque  carved  stone  paper  weight. 

576.  Small  magic  mirror  on  carved  stand. 

577.  Chinese  spy  glass,  of  little  or  no   use,  as  they  are 

not  possessed  of  science  enough  to  make  a  good 
instrument  of  this  kind. 

578.  Chinese  compass. 

5711  Curious  puzzle  made  of  a  number  of  silk  strings 
and  ivory  cross  bars.  The  bars  will  slide  up 
and  down  but  the  number  of  strings  between 
the  different  pairs  varies. 

580.  Small  pocket  compass. 

581.  583.  Brown  earthen  ware  tea  pots. 

582.  Curiously  carved  stone  paper  weights. 

584.  Elegant  carved  sandal  wood  card  stand  supported 

by  a  grotesque  ligure  of  a  frog. 

585.  Small  carved  stand  of  handsome  shape. 
58t>.   Beautiful  Japanese  carved  lacquered  box. 

587.  Lacquered  letter  case. 

588.  Small  curious  shaped  brown  ware  tea  pot. 

589.  Water  vessels,  part  of  a  Chinese  writing  apparatus. 

590.  Small  fancy  lacquered   box   for  betel  nut,  tobac- 

co, &c. 

591.  An  elegant  Joo-ee  or  sceptre,  which  according  to 

Davis  is,  in  fact,  an  emblem  of  amity  and  good 
will.  It  is  called  Juo-tt.  ••  as  you  wish."  and  is 
exchanged  as  a  costlv  mark  of  friendship:  but 
that  it  had  a  religious  origin  seems  indicated  by 
the  sacred  flower  of  the  lotus  being  generally 
carved  on  the  superior  end. 

592.  594,  Mandarins'  belt  clasps. 

593.  King   wood   ornamental   stand,  in  the  form   of  a 

flower. 

595.  Carved  ivory  letter  stamp. 

596.  Ornamental  stand  made  of  king  wood 

597.  Small  fancy  lacquered  box. 


144       CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE-    XXVI. 

598.  Small  yellow  earthen  ware  tea  pot. 

599,  600.  Metallic  framed  compasses  and  sundials. 
601.  Small  double  carved  king  wood  stand. 

In  carving  small  articles  out  of  ivory,  tortoise  shell, 
sandal  and  other  woods,  stone  and  bamboo,  the  Chinese 
certainly  do  excel  any  other  nation,  and  if  visitors  close- 
ly examine  the  articles  in  this  case  they  will  readily 
perceive  that  the  patient  labor  bestowed  upon  some  of 
them  must  have  been  immense. 


CASE    XXVI. 


602.  Chinese  compass. 

603.  Porcelain  flower  vessel  in  the  form  of  an  elephant. 

604.  Chinese  combs  of  various  patterns. 

605  to  607.  Three  covered  cups  showing  the  process 
of  painting  porcelain.  The  first  has  the  out- 
line drawn  in  India  ink,  the  second  has  the 
colors  put  on,  and  the  third  is  finished,  the  col- 
ors being  burned  in. 

608.  A  set  of  chopsticks. 

609.  Spectacles  of  different  kinds,  made  of  chrystal. 

These  are  sometimes  fastened  on  by  loops  pass- 
ing over  the  ears  and  sometimes  with  strings 
with  little  weights  at  the  ends.  The  large  round 
eye  gives  the  wearer  a  peculiarly  sapient  ap- 
pearance. 

610.  Small  books  containing  the  prayers  recited  by  the 

Budhist  priests,  and  sold  by  them  as  amulets  to 
be  carried  about  the  person. 

611.  An  Oo-loo  or  bottle  gourd,  considered  an  emblem 

of  longevity. 

612.  Tray  and  set  of  porcelain  writing  implements. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XXVI.         145 

613.  Dried  skin  of  the  porcupine  fish,  used  by  the  Chi- 

nese as  lanterns. 

614.  Red  porcelain  medicine  box. 

615.  Joo-ee  or  sceptre,  similar  to  the  one  in  case  XXV. 

The  ornamental  parts  are  carved  out  of  jade 
and  other  precious  stones. 

616.  Beautiful  lacquered  paint  box,  with  colors,  &c. 

complete. 

617.  Large   and  beautifully   painted   porcelain  punch 

bowl. 

618.  Elegant  covered  porcelain  conjee  or  rice  bowl. 

619.  Arm  rings,  belt  clasps,  hair  pin  and  ear  rings. 

620.  Beautifully  painted  fancy  shaped  porcelain  fruit 

dish. 

621.  Porcelain  rice  bowl  and  hot  water  vessel. 

622.  623.  Fine   painted   fancy  shaped  porcelain  fruit 

dishes. 
624,  625.  Two  large  and  finely  painted  porcelain  plates 

on  stands. 
626.  Different  sized  compasses. 
627  to  629.  Three  elegantly  painted  porcelain  dishes 

of  fancy  shapes. 

630.  Fine  porcelain  sweetmeat  vessels  in  the  form  of  a 

puzzle.  Within  the  different  ones  are  paintings 
of  birds  and  flowers  upon  the  prepared  leaves 
of  the  Ficus  religiosa  or  Banyan  tree. 

631.  Copper  hand  furnace  used  by  gentlemen  in  cold 

weather. 

632.  Compasses  used  on  board  of  junks  and  other  large 

Chinese  vessels. 

633.  Large  compass  of  different  construction. 

634.  A  beautiful  and  costly  carved  red  lacquered  Jap- 

anese present  box  presented  by  Pwan-tin-qua, 
one  of  Keying's  suite. 

19 


146        CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE    XXVIII. 

635.  A  number  of  snuff  bottles  of  different  patterns  and 

made  of  different  materials.    The  snuff  is  taken 
out  with  a  little  spoon  attached  to  the  stopple. 

636.  Lacquered  sweetmeat  box. 

637.  Beautiful  pearl  inlaid  lacquered  cover  to  636. 

638.  Splendid  pearl  inlaid  lady's  dressing  case  from 

Japan. 


CASE    XXVII. 


Contains  a  model  of  a  Chinese  flower  boat,  some 
pots  of  artificial  flowers  and  an  argus  pheasant  feather 
fan. 

The  flower  boats  are  used  by  the  Chinese  as  hotels 
are  with  us,  but  to  a  greater  extent,  in  giving  dinners. 
They  are  also  often  used  by  bridal  parties  and  excur- 
sions of  other  kinds  upon  the  rivers.  At  Canton  whole 
streets  of  these  boats  are  seen,  which  with  their  richly 
carved  and  gilded  fronts  present  a  gorgeous  spectacle, 
especially  at  night,  when  they  are  splendidly  lighted 
with  a  great  variety  of  lanterns.  Many  of  them  are 
used  as  drinking  and  gaming  establishments  and  some 
for  worse  purposes.  On  the  top  of  the  case  is  an  ele- 
gant model  of  a  Chinese  summer  house  and  a  beautiful 
specimen  of  carving  in  fine  wood. 


CASE    XXVII  I. 


Contains  a  model  of  a  Hong  boat,  and  some  pots  of 
artificial  flowers.  These  boats  are  so  called  by  foreign- 
ers, because  used  by  the  Hong  merchants  in  going  from 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XXX.         147 

one  part  of  Canton  to  another,  or  to  and  from  their 
country  places.  They  are  very  pleasant  and  conve- 
nient boats  for  making  excursions  upon  the  river  with 
small  parties  in  summer,  and  have  been  adopted  by 
several  foreign  residents  at  Canton  for  this  purpose. 
On  this  and  the  next  case  are  a  number  of  cases  of  in- 
sects, &c. 


CASE    XXIX. 


Contains  a  model  of  a  stone  bridge  of  five  arches  at 
Fahti  near  Canton. 


CASE    XXX. 


639,  640.  Two  beautiful  paintings  on  glass  represent- 
ing scenes  in  the  ancient  history  of  the  Empire. 

641.  Rosaries  made  of  different  materials  and  worn  by 

priests  and  mandarins. 

642.  A  metallic   vessel  with  several   apartments,    one 

above  the  other,  and  tea  and  Sam-shou  pots 
fastened  an  at  the  sides.  A  lamp  beneath  warms 
the  whole  apparatus. 

643.  Handsome  domestic  shrine  made  of  King  wood. 

644.  645,  647.  Metallic  candlesticks  and  plate  to  set 

upon  on  altar  before  Budhist  idols. 
646.  White  copper  hookah  in  a  case  with  box  for  to- 
bacco and  stand  for  match  paper.  In  these 
pipes  the  fumes  of  the  tobacco  are  made  to  pass 
through  water  or  some  aromatic  liquid,  contain- 
ed in  the  vessel  below. 


148 


Chinese    museum  —  case    xxx. 


648.  Metallic  tobacco  box  and  match  stand. 

649.  White  copper  hand  furnace. 

650.  651.  Metallic  night  lamp  and  cover. 

652.  A  beautiful  carved  stone  tablet  in  an  elegant  carv- 

ed King  wood  frame  and  stand. 

653,  654.  Metallic  tea  and  Sam-shou  pots. 

655.  Handsome  reading  lamp  made  of  white  copper. 

656,  657.  Bamboo  under  shirts  worn  by  gentlemen  in 

summer. 
658.  Sword  made  of  old  coin  and  hung  up  in  houses  to 

prevent  the  ingress  of  ghosts. 
659  to  663.  Figured  candles  burned  in  the  temples  and 

by  the   wealthy  before  the  representatives  of 

the  Budhist  deities  on  festivals. 

664.  Common  candles.    The  Chinese  have  been  oblig- 

ed to  seek  a  substitute  for  the  fat  of  animals, 
owing  to  their  scarcity,  in  the  vegetable  king- 
dom, and  this  they  find  in  the  seed  of  the  croton 
sebiferum  or  tallow  tree.  This  seed  which  is 
contained  in  a  three  lobed  berry  is  surrounded 
by  a  white  substance  not  unlike  tallow  in  con- 
sistence. The  vegetable  grease  is  obtained 
from  the  seed  by  grinding,  crushing,  exposing 
it  to  heat  and  afterwards  pressing  it.  From 
this  substance  all  their  candles  are  made  and  as 
it  melts  easily  the  candles  are  usually  coated 
with  wax.  They  burn  rapidly,  having  a  large 
wick,  made  of  a  bamboo  stick  covered  with  cot- 
ton, and  give  a  very  bad  light,  with  a  great  deal 
of  smoke. 

665.  A  painting  on  glass  representing  a  thunder  storm, 

which   the    Chinese  suppose  is  caused  by  the 
dragon. 

666.  Metallic  incense  vessel  to  suspend  against  the  wall. 
667*  White  copper  hookah. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM     CASE     XXXI.  149 

668.  Carved  wood  shrine  with  porcelain  image  of  the 

goddess  Kuan-yim. 

669,  670.  A  pair  of  beautifully  flowered  candles  used 

at  wedding  entertainments. 

671.  Richly  carved  and  gilt  shrine  with  name  of  the 

deity  inscribed  on  the  tablet  below. 

672,  673,  674.  Metallic  candlesticks  and  incense  vessel. 
675,  676.  Metal  Sam-shou  pots. 

677.  Large  and  elegant  tablet  on  stand. 


CASE    XXXI  . 


Contains  a  model  of  a  duck  boat  and  several  lac- 
quered feather  fans. 

The  Chinese  consume  a  great  many  ducks,  which 
they  contrive  to  rear  very  cheaply  in  boats  made  for  the 
purpose.  In  these  the  ducks  are  conveyed  from  place 
to  place  upon  the  rivers  and  turned  out  to  seek  their 
own  food  upon  the  muddy  banks  and  shoals.  Upon  a 
signal  being  given  by  the  owner,  the  ducks  may  be  seen 
hurrying  from  every  direction  towards  the  boats  to  which 
they  belong,  and  ascending  the  inclined  planks  laid  out 
for  the  purpose,  file  off  to  their  own  coops.  It  is  said 
that  the  birds  are  trained  to  flock  to  the  boats,  when 
the  signal  is  given,  by  the  last  one  coming  in  being 
whipped. 


150     CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XXXIV. 


CASES  XXXII   AND  XXXIII. 

The  first  of  these  cases  contains  a  model  of  a  stone 
bridge  of  three  openings  in  the  interior  of  Honam  ;  and 
the  second  a  model  of  a  granite  bridge  of  three  arches 
opposite  Canton. 

Chinese  bridges,  where  there  is  much  passing,  and 
the  situation  admits  of  it,  are  always  made  of  the  most 
solid  and  durable  materials,  put  together  in  a  substan- 
tial manner.  Evidences  of  their  engineering  skill  in 
this  respect  are  to  be  seen  in  all  parts  of  the  empire,  and 
several  fine  bridges  are  spoken  of  in  Staunton's  account 
of  Lord  Macartney's  embassy  to  China.  One  of  nine- 
ty-one arches,  thrown  across  an  arm  of  a  lake  between 
Soo-chow  and  Hang-chow,  was  passed,  and  in  Keang- 
nan  solid  stone  bridges  of  different  forms  were  observed 
to  be  thrown  over  the  canal.  Some  of  the  arches  were 
semi-circular,  others  the  transverse  section  of  an  elipse, 
and  others  approached  the  shape  of  a  horse  shoe,  the 
space  being  widest  at  the  top.  From  the  fact  of  arches 
and  vaulted  work  being  found  in  the  Great  Wall,  which 
was  built  more  than  two  thousand  years  ago,  it  is  evident 
that  the  Chinese  must  have  understood  the  construction 
and  properties  of  the  arch  long  before  the  Greeks  and 
Romans,  whose  original  and  most  ancient  edifices  con- 
sisted of  columns  connected  by  straight  architraves,  of 
bulk  sufficient  to  support  the  incumbent  pressure  of 
solid  masonry. 


CASE   XXXIV. 


Contains  a  beautiful  model  of  a  Mandarin's  couch, 
with  the  appurtenances  complete.  On  the  top  is  a 
model  of  the  Whampoa  pagoda. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE      XXXV.  151 

The  bedsteads  used  by  the  wealthy  Chinese,  of  which 
our  model  is  a  fair  specimen,  are  massive  and  tasty 
pieces  of  furniture,  and  cost  large  sums.  In  summer 
nothing  but  a  mat  is  used  upon  them  ;  and  in  winter  a 
thin  quilt  stuffed  with  raw  silk.  The  luxury  of  feather 
beds,  hair  mattrasses,  and  other  western  inventions,  ap- 
pear to  be  unknown  to  the  Celestials.  The  bed  cover- 
ing is  made  of  silk,  and  always  handsome;  its  arrange- 
ment at  the  back  will  be  noticed  in  the  model.  A  pil- 
low made  of  bamboo  or  rattan  usually  answers  to  rest 
the  head  upon. 

The  model  of  a  pagoda  on  this  case  is  a  representa- 
tion of  the  pagoda  of  Pepa-chow,  known  to  foreigners 
as  the  "  Whampoa  pagoda."  It  is  one  of  the  land 
marks  used  by  vessels  coming  up  the  river.  It  stands 
on  a  slight  elevation  of  ground,  is  about  170  feet  high, 
and  was  built  in  1598.  It  was  originally  called  Fowtu, 
(Budha,)  and  also  "  the  pagoda  of  the  sea  monsters," 
and  has  a  small  court  dedicated  to  the  god  of  the  north, 
and  a  temple  consecrated  to  the  monsters  of  the  deep. 


CASE   XXXV. 


678.  Large  cakes  of  ink  with  gilt  figures  of  the  dragon 

upon  them. 

679.  Rolls  of  ink  used  in  stores. 

680.  Common  writing  pencils  of  different  sizes. 

681.  A  case  of  fine  writing  pencils. 

682.  Fine  ink  of  different  manufacture. 

683.  Large  and  small  pencils  for  writing  the  different 

styles  of  characters. 

684.  Similar  to  680. 

685.  Brushes  used  by  lantern  manufacturers. 


152         CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XXXV. 

686.  Ink  stones. 

687.  A  pair  of  children's  grass  slippers. 

688.  Shoes  for  large  sized  compressed  feet. 

689.  do.    do.  small  feet. 

690.  Paints  used  by  the  Chinese  ladies  upon  their  faces, 

which  they  cover  so  completely  with  white  as 
to  hide  their  complexions  entirely.  The  lips 
only  are  touched  with  red. 

691.  Shoes  for  small  footed  ladies. 

692.  Clay  models  of  a  pair  of  the  golden  lilies,  one  ban- 

daged and  the  other  naked. 

693.  False  hair  worn  by  ladies. 

694.  Pair  of  children's  grass  slippers. 

695.  Thick  leather  soled  shoes  worn  in  wet  weather  by 

women  with  large  feet. 

696.  Boys  satin  shoes  with  fancy  soles. 

697.  698.  Children's  embroidered  shoes. 

699.  Heavy  shoes  for  children,  with  felt  soles. 

700.  Beautifully  embroidered  shoes  of  various  patterns 

for  ladies  with  large  feet. 

701.  Embossed  blue  satin  shoes  for  gentlemen. 

702.  Gentlemen's  cloth  shoes  with  felt  soles. 

703.  do.         dark  grass  shoes. 

704.  Grass  slippers. 

705.  Mandarin's  satin  boots. 

706.  Grass  slippers  lined  with  cotton. 

707.  Similar  to  702. 

708.  Children's   leather  shoes;    worn   by   the   poorer 

classes. 

709.  Yellow  grass  shoes  for  gentlemen. 

710.  Mourning  shoes. 

711.  Heavy  wood  soled  shoes  worn  in  rainy  weather. 

712.  Satin  shoes  with  thick  leather  soles  for  wet  weather. 

713.  Military  boots. 

714.  Overshoes  for  ladies  with  small  feet. 

715.  Clogs  worn  by  coolies. 


CHINESE  MUSEUM CASE  XXXVI.   153 

716.  Leather  boots  for  ladies  with  small  feet. 

717.  Children's  shoes. 

As  the  Chinese  have  very  little  leather  besides  pig 
skin  which  is  very  porous,  they  are  obliged  to  make  the 
soles  of  their  boots  and  shoes  waterproof  with  some 
other  material  to  keep  out  water.  For  this  purpose 
they  use  wood,  felt,  and  paper. 


CASE    XXX  VI. 


Contains  a  model  of  the  principal  building  attached 
to  the  celebrated  Budhist  temple  at  Honam,  commonly 
called  the  Honam  Jos  house,  with  idols,  &c,  complete. 
On  the  top  of  the  case  is  a  model  of  a  two  storied  sum- 
mer house  in  the  south  of  China  completely  furnished. 

The  ground  occupied  by  the  temple  at  Honam,  which 
is  the  largest  and  best  endowed  religious  establishment 
in  the  southern  part  of  the  Empire,  was  originally  a  pri- 
vate garden,  but  several  hundred  years  ago,  a  priest 
named  Cheyue,  built  up  an  establishment,  which  he 
called  "  the  temple  often  thousand  autumns,"  and  dedi- 
cated it  to  Budha.  It  remained  an  obscure  place  until 
within  200  years ;  when  the  Emperor  Kanghe's  son  in 
law,  who  acquired  the  title  of  "  King  of  the  subjugated 
South,"  by  completely  bringing  the  province  of  Can- 
ton under  his  father's  sway,  took  up  his  head  quarters 
in  the  temple  of  Honam.  Being  a  blood-thirsty  man, 
and  casting  his  eyes  upon  Ah-tsze,  a  fat,  happy  priest, 
whose  good  condition  he  thought  could  not  be  the 
effect  of  vegetable  diet,  and  that  he  was  consequently  a 
hypocrite,  he  drew  his  sword  to  kill  him ;  but  his  arm 
suddenly  stiffened,  and  he  was  stopped  from  his  purpose. 
That  night  a  divine  person  appeared  to  him  in  a  dream, 


154     CHINESE      MUSEUM  CASE     XXXVI. 

and  assured  him  that  Ah-tsze  was  a  holy  man,  adding, 
"  you  must  not  unjustly  kill  him."  Next  morning  the 
king  presented  himself  hefore  Ah-tsze,  confessed  his 
crime,  and  his  arm  was  immediately  restored.  He  then 
did  oheisance  to  the  priest,  and  took  him  for  his  tutor 
and  guide,  and  morning  and  evening  the  king  waited 
on  the  priest  as  his  servant.  Through  the  intervention 
of  Ah-tsze  the  inhabitants  of  the  surrounding  country 
were  rescued  from  extermination,  and  by  their  gratitude 
and  the  munificence  of  the  king  and  his  Tartar  officers 
the  temple  was  raised  to  its  present  magnificence. 

Its  buildings,  which  are  chiefly  of  brick,  are  numer- 
ous, and  occupy  with  the  gardens  belonging  to  the 
temple,  six  or  eight  acres.  These  grounds  are  sur- 
rounded by  a  high  wall.  After  entering  the  first  gate 
and  passing  through  a  long  court-yard,  the  centre  of 
which  is  occupied  by  a  handsome  wide  granite  walk, 
kept  very  clean,  and  shaded  by  rows  of  large  trees  on 
each  side,  you  come  to  the  second,  called  the  hill  gate, 
over  winch  Ifae-cluccwg,  the  name  of  the  temple,  is 
written  in  large  characters.  Here,  as  you  stand  in  the 
gateway,  you  see  two  colossal  figures,  twenty  or  twenty- 
five  feet  in  height, — images  of  deified  warriors,  sta- 
tioned one  on  your  right  and  the  other  on  your  left,  in 
threatening  attitudes,  to  guard  day  and  night  the  en- 
trance to  the  inner  courts.  Passing  further  on,  through 
another  court,  you  enter  "  the  palace  of  the  four  great 
celestial  Kings,"  images  of  ancient  heroes,  of  colossal 
dimensions,  like  the  former.  Still  advancing,  a  broad 
granite  pathway,  like  the  two  former,  conducts  you  up 
to  the  principal  building,  of  which  our  model  is  a  repre- 
sentation. I'pon  a  carved  and  gilded  tablet,  in  front, 
is  inscribed  the  characters  Tae  Hoong  Paou  Teen, 
li  The  Great  Powerful  Precious  Palace."  Procid,  O 
procul  este  profani.  You  are  now  in  the  presence  of 
the  trial  of  Budha — Suit  Paou  Fuh,  the  three  precious 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     X  XXVI.        1 55 

Budhas.  Three  stately  images,  more  than  twentv  feet 
in  height,  in  a  sitting  posture,  covered  frith   burnished 

gold,  and  representing  the  past,  the  present,  and  to 
come.  On  the  right  sits  Kico-Kttt  Fu/t.  whose  reign  is 
alreadv  past  In  the  centre  is  llai-isae  Fuh.  who  now 
Feigns  over  the  world.  And  on  the  left  is  H't-lae  Fuh, 
the  Budha  whose  reign  is  vet  to  come.  In  front  of 
these  arc  altars,  upon  which  the  incense  vessels  and 
offerings  to  the  gods  are  placed.  Eighteen  other  gilded 
idols  of  smaller  size  deck  the  sides  ol  the  hall,  and  bells, 
urns,  iSssic.  are  scattered  about. 

The  building,  in  which  these  images  are  placed,  is 
about  100  feet  square,  and  standing  in  the  midst  of  the 
vast  hall,  at  twilight,  surrounded  by  the  colossal  but 
senseless  and  silent  idols,  who  receive  the  largest  share 
of  the  worship  due  from  the  sons  and  daughters  of 
Adam  to  their  creator,  a  feeling  of  awe  gradually  steals 
over  the  mind,  akin  to  that  felt  on  visiting  the  splendid 
edifices  dedicated  to  religious  purposes  in  other  coun- 
tries. But  here  it  is  soon  dispelled  by  the  monotonous 
chanting  of  the  priests,  performing  their  vespers  in  the 
Pali  language,  of  the  meaning  of  which  they  themselves 
are  generally  ignorant. 

"Beyond  this  building  are  other  halls,  filled  with 
images,  and  on  the  right  side  is  a  long  line  of  apart- 
ments, some  of  which  are  formed  into  narrow  cells  for 
the  priests,  and  others  into  stalls  and  pens  for  pigs, 
fowls,  ^ic  which  are  brought  to  the  temple  bv  devout 
devotees,  when  they  come  to  make  or  pay  vows  to  the 
beimrs  who  inhabit  the  temple.  On  the  left  side  there 
is  another  set  of  apartments,  a  pavilion  for  Kwan-foo- 
tsze.  a  military  demigod  :  a  hall  for  the  reception  of 
visitors  :  a  treasury  :  a  retreat  for  Te-tsean^-uans-  the 
King  of  Hades:  the  chief  priest's  room:  a  dining  hall, 
ami  a  kitchen.  Beyond  these,  there  is  a  spacious  gar- 
den, at  the  extremity  of  which  there  is  a  mausoleum, 


156      CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XXXVI. 

wherein  the  ashes  of  the  burnt  priests  are  once  a  year 
deposited ;  also  a  furnace  for  burning  their  dead  bodies, 
and  a  little  cell  in  which  the  jars  containing  their  ashes 
are  kept,  till  the  annual  season  for  opening  the  mauso- 
leum returns.  There  are  likewise,  tombs  for  the  bod- 
ies of  those  who  leave  money  for  their  burial.  There 
are  about  175  priests  in  the  temple,  who  are  supported 
in  part  by  property  belonging  to  the  establishment,  and 
partly  by  their  own  private  resources.  Only  a  very  few 
of  them  are  well  educated." 

The  summer  or  country  houses,  of  which  the  models 
seen  in  this  collection,  are  fair  specimens,  are  gener- 
ally built  of  wood  and  set  upon  brick  or  stone  pillars  in 
the  midst  of  sheets  of  water,  which  are  covered  with 
the  nelumbium,  or  water  lily.  Some  of  these  country 
seats,  occupying  a  few  acres  only,  diversified  by  artifi- 
cial hills,  clumps  of  rocks  and  trees,  small  islands  and 
buildings  of  different  sizes  and  construction,  joined  to- 
gether by  tasty  bridges,  are  arranged  in  such  a  per- 
spective manner  as  to  give  them  the  appearance  of  ex- 
tensive grounds.  Families  do  not  ordinarily  reside  at 
these  places,  but  short  excursions  are  made  to  them  in 
summer,  and  entertainments  are  given  to  friends  in 
them,  in  which  theatrical  performances  generally  form 
a  part,  and  a  private  theatre  is  therefore  attached  to 
the  principal  building  for  this  purpose.  The  Chinese 
being  great  epicures,  some  of  these  entertainments  are 
very  costly,  and  the  tables  are  covered  with  a  profusion 
of  dishes,  filled  with  extravagant  and  far-fetched  dain- 
ties. The  order  of  the  courses  varies,  but  they  usually 
begin  as  ours  end,  with  fruits,  cakes  and  sweetmeats, 
and  end  as  ours  begin,  with  soup,  or  more  commonly 
with  plain  boiled  rice.  The  number  ot  courses  is 
sometimes  very  great ;  ten,  twenty,  thirty  and  upwards 
are  not  unusual.  One  course  is  not  entirely  removed 
to  give  place  to  another,  but  the  dishes  are  being  con- 


CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XXXVI.         157 

tinually  changed.  The  food  consists  principally  of 
stews,  in  which  the  meat  is  cut  up  into  small  pieces 
previous  to  cooking,  in  order  to  accommodate  it  to  the 
chopsticks,  and  a  Chinese  dinner  would  be  nothing 
without  stews  made  of  birds'  nests,  sharks'  fins,  deers' 
sinews,  bircho-de-mer,  or  sea  slugs,  and  many  other 
such  dishes,  used  and  appreciated  only  by  the  Chinese, 
and  all  of  which,  to  the  uneducated  and  barbarous  taste 
of  a  native  of  the  western  world,  possess  a  similarly  in- 
sipid or  repulsive  flavor.  Sam-shou,  a  liquor  distilled 
from  rice,  is  served  hot,  and  the  host  and  guests  amuse 
themselves  with  the  game  of  tsuey-moey,  or  some  other. 
The  game  is  played  by  two  persons  facing  each  other 
and  simultaneously  throwing  out  their  hands  and  open- 
ing some  of  their  fingers,  at  the  same  time  expressing 
the  number  of  fingers  held  out  by  both.  If  one  guesses 
correctly,  and  the  other  does  not,  the  looser  is  obliged 
to  drink  a  cup  of  sam-shou.  This  is  a  favorite  game 
with  all  classes,  and  Davis  says,  is  precisely  the  same 
as  the  game  of  Morra,  common  among  the  lower  orders 
of  Italy  at  the  present  day,  and  derived  by  them  from 
the  Roman  sport  of  "  Micare  digilis"  of  which  Cicero 
remarked,  that  "  you  must  have  great  faith  in  the 
honesty  of  any  man  with  whom  you  played  in  the 
dark."  After  the  entertainment,  if  theatricals  are  in- 
troduced, one  of  the  actors  steps  forward  and  presents 
a  list  of  plays  to  the  principal  guest  for  his  selection, 
any  of  which  the  company  can  perform  at  a  moment's 
notice. 

The  dwelling  houses  of  the  Chinese  present  a  blank 
wall  to  the  street,  and  in  this  respect  as  well  as  in  their 
ordinary  plan,  are  said  to  bear  a  curious  resemblance 
to  the  remains  of  the  Roman  habitations,  disinterred 
from  the  scoriae  and  ashes  of  Pompeii.  "  They  con- 
sist usually  of  a  single  story,  divided  into  several  apart- 
ments, lighted  only  by  windows  looking  into  the  inter- 


158       CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE    XXXVII. 

nal  court  yard.  The  principal  room  next  to  the  en- 
trance, serves  to  receive  visitors  as  well  as  for  eating: 
and  within  are  the  more  private  apartments,  the  door- 
ways of  which  are  screened  by  pendant  curtains  of  silk 
or  cotton.  At  the  north,  the  apartments  are  furnished 
with  brick  .work  couches,  with  furnaces  below  to  warm 
them  during  the  winter." 

The  houses  are  generally  raised  a  few  steps  above 
the  ground  and  are  generally  built  of  blue  brick  super- 
ficially pointed.  "  Those  of  consequence  are  entered 
by  a  triple  gateway,  consisting  of  one  large  folding 
door  in  the  centre,  and  of  a  smaller  one  on  either  side. 
These  last  serve  for  ordinary  occasions,  while  the  first 
is  thrown  open  for  the  reception  of  distinguished  guests. 
Large  lanterns  of  a  cylindrical  shape  are  hung  at  the 
sides,  on  which  are  inscribed  the  name  and  titles  of  the 
inhabitant  of  the  mansion,  so  as  to  be  read  either  by  day, 
or  at  night  when  the  lanterns  are  lighted."  Just  within 
the  gates  is  the  covered  court,  where  the  sedan  chairs 
stand,  surrounded  by  red  varnished  label  boards,  hav- 
ing inscribed  in  gilt  characters,  the  full  titles  of  any  per- 
son of  rank  and  consequence. 


CASE    XXXVII. 


This  case  is  placed  between  II.  and  III.  and  con- 
tains a  model  of  a  Sing-Song,  or  Chinese  theatre,  with 
actors  performing. 

The  Chinese,  although  fond  of  theatricals,  have  no 
stationary  theatres  except  at  Peking,  but  companies  of 
actors  are  continually  traveling  through  the  provinces 
performing  wherever  the  inhabitants  can  raise  a  suffi- 
cient  amount   by   subscription   to   rumunerate    them. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XXXVII.       159 

Bamboos  and  mats  are  to  be  had  everywhere,  and  in  a 
few  hours,  with  these,  and  rattans  to  fasten  them  to- 
gether, the  Chinese  will  construct  a  large  building. 
The  theatres  arc  generally  erected  in  some  of  the 
squares  or  open  places  in  front  of  the  temples  and  are 
free  to  all  passers  by,  as  they  arc  left  entirely  open  in 
front.  Women  are  never  seen  on  the  Chinese  stage, 
their  parts  being  performed  admirably  by  young  boys 
educated  for  the  purpose.  Many  of  their  plays  are 
founded  on  the  ancient  history  of  the  Empire  and  rep- 
resent the  wars  between  the  different  states  or  petty 
kingdoms.  In  these  plays  the  dresses  are  very  splendid. 
As  they  use  little  or  no  shifting  scenery,  a  great  deal  is 
left  to  the  imagination.  An  actor  comes  in  with  a  whip 
in  his  hand  and  throws  up  his  left  leg  when  there  is  no 
doubt  he  is  on  horseback.  Striding  up  and  down  the 
stage  several  times,  he  stops  and  informs  the  audience 
that  he  has  arrived  at  some  distant  place,  which  they 
are  in  duty  bound  to  believe.  If  he  hesitates  in  his  rapid 
pace  during  his  journey  and  treads  a  few  steps  cautiously 
and  with  an  oscillating  motion  of  the  body,  and  then 
stoops  down  and  begins  pulling  at  an  imaginary  oar, 
the  spectators  must  suppose  him  exposed  to  the  dan- 
gers of  navigation.  These  defects  with  the  ludicrously 
painted  faces  of  the  actors  representing  Tartar  generals 
and  the  horrid  din  kept  up  with  gongs  and  an  instru- 
ment which  has  been  aptly  compared  in  its  notes  to  a 
cracked  penny  trumpet,  renders  all  their  historical  plays 
farces  in  the  eyes  of  foreigners.  The  plays  begin  about 
the  middle  of  the  day  and  last  until  late  at  night,  usually 
ending  with  tumbling  and  other  feats  of  agility  and 
strength. 


160      CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE      XXXIX. 


CASE    XXXVII  I. 

Between  Cases  III.  and  IV.  contains  a  small  model 
of  a  tanka  boat. 


CASE    XXXIX. 


Between  Cases  IV.  and  V. 

718.  Mats  made  of  cocoa-nut  husks. 

719.  Brushes     "  "  "     used  by  painters. 

720.  Barbers'  brushes. 

721.  Gentlemen's  leather  pockets. 

722.  Tinder  cases. 

723.  Small  opium  pillow. 

724.  Pocket  ink-stand. 

725.  Moustache  combs. 

726.  Tortoise  shell  and  bamboo  instruments,  used  by 

ladies  to  fasten  up  the  hair. 

727.  Brushes  used  by  ladies  to  clean  their  combs. 

728.  Tinman's  soldering  irons,  made  of  iron. 

729.  Small  tinman's  shears. 

730.  Tinman's  hammers. 

731.  Funnel  made  of  tin. 

732.  Tailor's  shears. 

733.  Ladies'  scissors. 

734.  Snuffers. 

735.  Shoe  brushes. 

736.  "  Soong-poon"  counting-board  universally  used  by 

the  Chinese  in  calculating  sums. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XL.  161 

737.  Chinese  padlocks  of  curious  construction. 

738.  Small  pillow  made  of  rattan. 

739.  Pillow  made  of  lacquered  pig  skin. 

740.  Leather  travelling  pillow. 

741.  Chinese  nails  and  screws  made  entirely  by  hand. 


CASE    XL. 


Between  Cases  IX.  and  X. 

742.  Large  Jos  stick  burned  in  incense  vessels  before 

idols. 

743.  Jos  stick  made  of  the  raspings  of  sandal  wood, 

which  when  burned  gives  out  a  fragrant  odor. 

744.  745.    Sandal  wood   Jos  stick  in  different  fancy 

packages. 

746.  Common  Jos  stick  used  in  stores  and  houses  as 

incense.  Before  clocks  were  introduced  into 
China,  Jos  stick,  graduated  to  measure  time, 
and  clepsydra's  were  the  instruments  by  which 
the  Chinese  kept  the  time  of  day.  Each 
period  of  a  day  and  night  together  is  divided 
by  them  into  twelve  parts  called  chee,  which 
begin  at  eleven  o'clock  at  night  according  to 
our  reckoning. 

747.  Brick  tea  used  in  China  as  a  medicine,  and  in 

some  parts  of  Tartary,  according  to  Timkowski, 
like  money,  as  a  medium  of  exchange. 

748.  Chinese  match  paper  for  lighting  pipes.     It  takes 

fire  readily,  and  is  inflamed  when  required  by 
a  slight  puff. 

749.  750.  Cakes  of  tea  used  as  a  medicine. 

751.  Ring  Jos  stick  used  in  houses  and  stores  to  pre- 
serve a  fire  to  light  pipes  by.     Jos  stick  receives 


162     CHINESE  MUSEUM CASE  XL. 

its  name  from  the  principal  use  made  of  it,  as 
it  is  kept  continually  burning  as  incense  before 
the  Jos  or  idols  in  the  temples,  houses  and  ves- 
sels of  the  Chinese. 

752.  Betel  nut  as  taken  from  the  tree. 

753.  "       with  the  shuck  taken  off. 

754.  Second  quality  of  betel  nut. 

755.  Betel  nut  cut  in  thin  slices  for  chewing. 

756.  Honan  betel  nut  chewed  without  pepper  leaves. 
This  nut  is  in  fact  the  areca  nut,  the  fruit  of  a  slen- 
der palm,  not  above  six  inches  in  diameter  and  about 
30  feet  high. 

The  betel  pepper  is  the  vine  from  which  the  leaf  is 
obtained,  and  for  which  it  is  alone  cultivated.  The 
flavor  of  the  leaf  is  very  peculiar,  being  between  a  her- 
baceous and  an  aromatic  taste,  and  is  a  little  pungent. 
It  is  cultivated  throughout  the  south  of  China.  The 
preparation  of  the  betel  nut  for  use  is  very  simple.  The 
thin  slices  are  merely  wrapped  in  the  raw  fresh  pepper 
leaves  with  enough  quick-lime  to  give  them  a  flavor. 

The  habit  of  chewing  this  preparation  has  extended 
from  the  islands,  where  the  plant  is  found,  to  the  con- 
tinent of  Asia,  and  it  is  now  used  from  the  Red  sea  to 
the  Pacific  Ocean.  All  classes  of  people  among  the 
islanders,  male  and  female,  are  in  the  habit  of  chewing 
it.  "  It  sweetens  the  breath,"  so  say  those  who  use  it, 
"  rectifies  and  strengthens  the  stomach,  and  preserves 
the  teeth;"  it  also  gives  the  teeth,  lips,  and  gums  a 
dark  red  color,  which  is  esteemed  a  mark  of  beauty  in 
proportion  to  its  darkness.  There  is  less  objection 
against  its  use  than  that  of  tobacco ;  its  narcotic  prop- 
erties are  not  so  great,  and  the  taste  is  more  pleasant. 
Persons  of  rank  carry  it  prepared  for  use  in  splendid 
cases,  suspended  from  their  girdles.  Poor  people  are 
contented  with  cases  of  any  kind,  provided  they  con- 
tain the  substance  itself.     Among  some  of  the  inhabit- 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XL.  163 

ants  of  the  Indian  Archipelago,  to  refuse,  on  meeting  a 
friend,  to  accept  the  betel-nut  is  regarded  as  an  offence, 
and  satisfaction  is  demanded.  So  interwoven  into  their 
ideas  has  the  practice  become,  that  figures  of  beauty 
are  taken  from  it,  and  a  face  is  not  accounted  beautiful, 
unless  the  mouth  be  stained  of  a  dirty  red  round  the 
outside  of  the  lips. 

757.  Medicine  put  up  in  boxes  with  advertisements  in 

the  form  of  the  Oo-loo.     An  emblem  of  lon- 
gevity. 

758,  759.  Chinese  smoking  tobacco. 

760.  Chinese  paper  segars. 

Tobacco  is  not  chewed  by  the  Chinese  but  is  smoked 
by  all  classes,  both  boys  and  girls  learning  the  use  of 
the  pipe  from  their  earliest  childhood.  The  tobacco 
plant  is  commonly  said  by  the  people  to  have  been  in- 
troduced by  the  present  dynasty,  it  is  so  mild  as  to  be 
rather  insipid  to  persons  accustomed  to  Manila  or  Ha- 
vanna  tobacco,  though  the  species  is  identical.  Large 
manufactories  of  it  are  established  in  Canton,  some  of 
them  four  stories  high  (an  unusual  elevation  for  a  house 
in  China)  where  all  the  processes  of  preparation  are  to 
be  seen.  Paper  segars  are  the  only  kind  made  by  the 
Chinese  and  are  called  by  the  Spanish  segarhilo's,  or 
little  segars  ;  an  expert  workman  will  make  1500  in  a 
day.  A  Chinese  would  as  soon  think  of  going  without 
his  tea  and  rice,  as  without  his  pipe,  and  in  cases  of 
emergency,  he  even  puts  a  sigarhilo  or  two  behind  his 
ear,  to  have  one  at  hand. 

761.  Chinese  gunpowder.     This  is  another  invention 

of  the  Chinese  who  used  it  to  make  fire  works 
long  before  it  appeared  in  Europe,  but  probably 
did  not  use  it  with  fire  arms  until  afterwards. 
Their  proportions  of  materials  are  nearly  like 
ours  but  their  powder  is  poor  stuff  because 
badly  made. 


164        CHINESE      MUSEUM CASE     XLI. 

762.  Clay  balls  for  breath  guns. 

763.  Iron  shot,  used  as  a  matter  of  economy  by  Chinese 

sportsmen. 


CASE    XLI. 


Between  Cases  X  and  XI. 

764.  Chinese  olives. 

765.  Chinese  green  peas. 

766.  White  Nanking  peas. 

767.  Red  rice. 

768.  Black  Nanking  peas. 

769.  770.  Melon  seeds ;  used   by   the   Chinese   while 

drinking  Sam-shou.  The  skilful  extraction  of 
the  meat  of  these  seeds  constitutes  one  of  the 
accomplishments  of  a  Chinese  gentlemen. 

771.  Keen-leen;  the  seeds  of  the  Lien-fa  or  water  lily 

from  Fokien.  The  leaves  and  flowers  of  this 
plant  cover  the  immense  marshes  in  the  interior 
of  China  and  present  a  rich  and  beautiful  ap- 
pearance. It  is  often  raised  for  mere  orna- 
ment in  capacious  earthen  ware  or  porcelain 
tubs,  containing  gold  fish,  but  upon  the  lakes 
and  marshes  it  is  cultivated  for  its  seeds  and 
root,  both  of  which  are  articles  of  food  much 
esteemed  by  the  Chinese.  The  roots  are  sliced 
and  eaten  as  fruit,  being  white,  juicy,  and  of  a 
sweetish  and  refreshing  taste  ;  the  seeds  are 
eaten  with  Sam-shou. 

772,  773.  White  and  black  sesamum.     This  grain  is 

cultivated  principally  for  the  oil  obtained  from 
it ;  it  is  also  used  to  put  in  cakes  and  is  some- 
times boiled  and  eaten  like  rice. 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XLI.  165 

774.  Chinese  sugar  candy. 

775.  Chinese  white  sugar. 

776.  Chinese  brown  sugar. 

"  From  all  the  notices  that  can  be  obtained  from  an- 
cient history,  it  is  very  probable  that  China  was  the 
first  country  in  which  the  sugar  cane  was  cultivated. 
Its  native  country  is  the  southern  part  of  the  continent 
of  Asia,  and  its  properties  have  been  well  known  by 
the  inhabitants  for  many  ages.  Among  the  Chinese  the 
cultivation  of  it  is  carried  to  an  extent  sufficient  to  sup- 
ply their  own  wants,  and  also  to  form  an  article  of  ex- 
port. The  varieties  of  the  cane  are  several,  but  the 
only  one  cultivated  is  the  same  as  that  which  grows  in 
the  West  Indies."  The  process  of  manufacturing  it  is 
simple  and  laborious  ;  the  machinery  is  coarse,  and  the 
labor  performed  mostly  by  human  strength.  The  best 
sugar  made  by  the  Chinese  is  the  sugar  candy,  pulver- 
ised in  large  stone  mortars  and  called  ping-fa  '  chrystal 
flowers,'  the  superior  quality  of  which  is  as  white  as 
snow. 

777.  Long-gans.     "  Dragon's  eyes :"   so  called    from 

their  resemblance  to  the  ball  of  the  eye  :  a  fa- 
vorite fruit  with  the  Chinese,  but  not  suited  to 
the  palate  of  "  barbarians." 

778.  179.  First  and  second  qualities  of  deers1  sinews. 

780.  Good   and  inferior  qualities  of  bicho-de-mar  or 

tripang. 

781.  Prepared  birds-nests  of  two  qualities. 

782.  Edible   birds-nests,  in  the  state  in  which  they  are 

imported  into  China. 

783.  Dried  salted  shrimps. 

784.  Dried  fish  maws. 

785.  787.  Second  and  first  qualities  of  prepared  sharks' 

fins. 

786.  Vermicelli,  made  and  extensively  used  by  the  Chi- 

nese in  soups,  of  which  they  are  fond  and  make 
a  great  variety. 


166  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XLI. 

"A  considerable  proportion  of  the  food  of  the  Chi- 
nese consists  of  fruit,  which  is  both  cheap  and  abun- 
dant. Fruit  stalls  line  the  sides  of  the  streets,  and  bas- 
kets full  fill  the  doorways  of  shops.  The  variety  is  not 
so  great  as  in  western  countries,  where  exotic  fruits 
are  added  to  the  indigenous,  nor  is  the  flavor  of  Chi- 
nese fruits,  as  a  whole,  equal  to  that  of  lands  where 
skill  and  science  have  combined  to  improve  the  produc- 
tions of  nature."  In  addition  to  the  fruits  already 
enumerated,  apples,  pears,  grapes,  peaches,  appricots, 
quinces,  and  dates,  grow  in  the  northern  and  middle 
parts  of  the  empire,  and  oranges,  limes,  pumelos,  citron, 
custard  apples,  plantains,  pine  apples,  pomegranates, 
jack  fruit,  guavas,  whampes,  and  mangoes,  are  amongst 
the  fruits  found  in  the  South.  "  The  peach  is  one  of 
the  best  fruits  found  in  China,  though  it  is  not  usually 
allowed  to  attain  its  full  maturity  on  the  tree,  the  prac- 
tice of  picking  fruits  before  they  are  ripe  being  very 
common  in  China,  and  is  often  the  chief  reason  of  their 
insipidity  which  is  noticed  by  most  all  writers.  Pears 
often  grow  to  a  large  size,  but  their  flavor,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  apple,  is  far  inferior  to  the  same  fruits  else- 
where, which  is  accounted  for  by  the  ignorance  of  Chi- 
nese gardeners  of  the  methods  of  improving  the  quality 
of  fruit  by  grafting  and  careful  cultivation." 

"  Chinese  agriculturists  excel  in  the  cultivation  of 
kitchen  herbs  and  vegetables,  of  which  they  raise  a 
great  variety  and  an  abundant  supply.  Their  forte  lies 
in  this  branch  of  gardening ,  and  in  the  amount  of  veg- 
etables produced  from  a  single  acre  probably  no  people 
exceed  them.  By  constant  manuring,  transplanting, 
and  forcing,  three,  four,  and  even  five  crops  of  vegeta- 
bles are  obtained  from  the  same  bed  in  a  twelve  month. 
They  are  very  fond  of  onions,  garlic,  and  all  other  edi- 
ble alliaceous  plants,  of  which  they  consume  large  quan- 
tities, so  much  so,  in  some  instances,  as  to  taint  their 


CHINESE   MUSEUM CASE  XLI.    167 

persons  with  the  odor."  But  the  favorite  and  most 
common  vegetable  used  by  them  is  the  pe-tsae  or  pak- 
tsoy,  'white  greens,'  so  called  from  the  leafstalks  being 
blanched.  It  is  a  species  of  brassica  resembling  lettuce ; 
is  produced  principally  at  the  north,  and  from  thence 
conveyed,  either  in  the  fresh  state  or  salted,  to  all  parts 
of  the  country.  They  are  said  to  preserve  it  fresh, 
either  by  planting  in  wet  sand,  or  by  burying  it  deep  in 
the  ground  ;  and  it  is  a  popular  remark,  that  the  nine 
gates  of  Peking  are  blockaded  during  the  autumnal 
season  with  the  vehicles  bringing  in  the  pe-tsae.  The 
amount  of  this  vegetable  consumed  is  second  only  to 
rice,  of  the  enormous  consumption  of  which  some  idea 
has  been  given  in  the  preceding  pages. 

The  article  of  birds'  nests,  which  owes  its  celebrity 
only  to  the  whimsical  luxury  of  the  Chinese,  is  brought 
principally  from  Java  and  Sumatra,  though  it  is  found 
on  most  of  the  rocky  islets  of  the  Indian  Archipelago 
The  nest  is  the  habitation  of  a  small  swallow,  named 
(from  the  circumstance  of  its  having  an  edible  dwelling) 
Hirundo  esculenta.  They  are  found  in  caves  and  are 
composed  of  a  mucilaginous  substance,  which  has  never 
yet  been  analysed  with  sufficient  accuracy  to  show  its 
constituents.  Those  that  are  dry,  white,  and  clean,  are 
the  most  valuable.  They  are  packed  in  bundles,  with 
split  rattans  run  through  them  to  preserve  their  shape. 

The  quality  of  the  nests  varies  according  to  the  situ- 
ation and  extent  of  the  caves,  and  the  time  at  which 
they  are  taken.  If  procured  before  the  young  are 
fledged,  the  nests  are  of  the  best  kind  ;  if  they  contain 
eggs  only,  they  are  still  valuable ;  but  if  the  young  are 
in  the  nests  or  have  left  them,  the  whole  are  then  nearly 
worthless,  being  dark  colored,  streaked  with  blood,  and 
intermixed  with  feathers  and  dirt.  The  nests  are  pro- 
curable twice  every  year  ;  the  best  are  found  in  deep, 
damp  caves,  which  if  not  injured  will  continue  to  pro- 


168  CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XLI. 

duce  indefinitely.  It  was  once  thought  that  the  caves 
near  the  sea  coast  were  the  most  productive  ;  but  some 
of  the  most  profitable  yet  found,  are  situated  fifty  miles 
in  the  interior.  This  fact  seems  to  be  against  the  opin- 
ion of  some,  that  the  nests  are  composed  of  the  spawn 
of  fish  or  of  bicho  de  mar. 

The  method  of  procuring  these  nests  somewhat  re- 
sembles that  of  catching  birds  on  the  Orkney  isles. 
Some  of  the  caves  are  so  precipitous,  that  no  one,  but 
those  accustomed  to  the  employment  from  their  youth, 
can  obtain  the  nests,  "  being  only  approachable,"  says 
Crawford,  "  by  a  perpendicular  descent  of  many  hun- 
dred feet,  by  ladders  of  bamboo  and  rattan,  over  a  sea 
rolling  violently  against  the  rocks.  When  the  mouth  of 
the  cave  is  attained,  the  perilous  task  of  taking  the  nests 
must  often  be  performed  by  torch-light,  by  penetrating 
into  recesses  of  the  rock,  where  the  slightest  slip  would 
be  instantly  fatal  to  the  adventurers,  who  see  nothing 
below  them  but  the  turbulent  surf  making  its  way  into 
the  chasms  of  the  rock." 

After  they  are  obtained,  they  are  separated  from 
feathers  and  dirt,  are  carefully  dried  and  packed,  and 
are  then  ready  for  the  consumer.  The  sale  of  birds' 
nests  is  a  monopoly  with  all  the  governments  in  whose 
dominions  they  are  found.  The  Chinese  are  the  only 
people  who  purchase  them  for  their  own  use,  and  in 
China  they  command  extravagant  prices  ;  the  best,  or 
white  kind  often  being  worth  $1800  per  pecul  of  133 
pounds.  The  labor  bestowed  to  render  it  fit  for  the  ta- 
ble is  enormous ;  every  feather,  stick  or  impurity  of  any 
kind  is  carefully  removed ;  and  then  after  undergoing 
many  washings  and  preparations,  it  is  stewed  into  a  soft, 
mucilaginous  jelly.  When  prepared  for  cooking,  the 
best  quality  sells  at  the  rate  of  $50  a  catty  (IK  lb.)  or 
$5000  per  pecul.  The  most  part  of  the  best  kind  is 
sent  to  Peking  for  the  use  of  the  court.     It  appears  that 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XLI.  169 

this  curious  dish  is  only  an  article  of  expensive  luxury 
among  the  Chinese  ;  the  Japanese  do  not  use  it  at  all, 
and  how  the  former  people  acquired  the  habit  of  using 
it  is  only  less  singular  than  their  persevering  in  it. 
They  consider  the  birds'  nest  as  a  great  stimulant  and 
tonic,  but  its  best  quality,  perhaps,  is  its  being  perfectly 
harmless. 

The  slug  (Holothurion)  called  Bicho  de  mar,  as  its 
name  imports,  is  a  product  of  the  sea,  and  resembles 
that  often  seen  in  damp  places  on  land.  It  forms  one 
of  the  important  articles  of  commerce  between  the 
islands  of  the  Indian  Archipelago  and  China.  It  is 
found  on  all  the  islands  from  New  Holland  to  Sumatra, 
and  also  on  most  of  those  in  the  Pacific.  It  is  pro- 
duced in  the  greatest  abundance  on  small  coral  islands, 
is  an  ill  looking  animal,  and  has  but  few  powers  of  loco- 
motion. The  ordinary  length  is  seen  here,  although  it 
is  sometimes  two  feet  long.  It  is  taken  with  the  hand 
by  natives,  who  often  dive  for  it :  and  after  it  has  been 
cleansed,  dried,  and  smoked,  it  is  fit  for  sale.  The 
Chinese  use  it  by  itself,  or  as  an  ingredient  in  other 
dishes,  and  consume  large  quantities  under  the  belief 
that  it  is  an  aphrodisiac.  When  brought  to  the  table  it 
resembles  pork  rind  in  color  and  consistency.  The  va- 
rieties into  which  the  Chinese  divide  it  are  about  thirty, 
but  unless  one  is  well  acquainted  with  the  article  it  is 
impossible  to  distinguish  them. 

Deers'  sinews  and  sharks'  fins,  when  cooked,  are  es- 
teemed by  the  Chinese  for  their  supposed  stimulating 
and  tonic  properties.  The  former  are  brought  from  the 
northern  parts  of  the  empire  to  Canton,  and  the  latter 
arc  sought  for  from  the  Indian  ocean  to  the  Sandwich 
islands  to  supply  the  Chinese  market.  The  chief  sup- 
ply is  from  Bombay  and  the  Persian  gulf.  There  ap- 
pears to  be  little  or  no  choice  as  to  what  species  of  shark 
the  fins  are  from,  but  those  of  a  whitish  color  are  valued 


170  CHINESE    MUSEUM CASE    XLI. 

much  higher  than  the  black  sort.  Sharks  and  rays  of 
all  kinds  form  a  common  article  of  food  amongst  the 
Chinese  on  the  coast. 

The  stomach  of  fishes,  called  fish  maws,  like  the  pre- 
ceding articles,  are  used  as  a  luxury  among  the  Chi- 
nese, who  consume  them  for  their  imagined  strengthen- 
ing and  aphrodisiac  qualities.  They  are  of  a  cartilagi- 
nous nature,  and  are  cured  by  stretching  and  drying 
them  in  the  sun.  They  are  chiefly  brought  to  China 
in  junks  from  the  Indian  islands. 

In  addition  to  the  stock  and  other  kinds  of  salt  fish, 
imported  in  small  quantities,  the  Chinese  cure  a  large 
amount  of  the  fish  and  shrimps  taken  in  their  own  wa- 
ters by  salting  and  drying  them  in  the  sun,  and  seem 
particularly  to  relish  the  high  flavor  of  those  preserved 
with  just  enough  salt  to  keep  them  from  becoming  ab- 
solutely putrid. 

Of  the  immense  number  of  ducks,  hatched  by  arti- 
ficial heat  and  raised  in  boats  upon  the  inland  waters, 
many  are  split  and  dried.  The  gizzards  of  geese,  ducks 
and  other  fowls,  smoked  and  dried,  and  even  rats  and 
mice,  similarly  preserved,  are  common  articles  of  food 
amongst  the  middling  and  poorer  classes.  The  split 
ducks,  smoked  gizzards,  and  rats  and  mice  are  seen  ex- 
posed for  sale  in  stalls,  or  carried  about  the  streets  on 
poles,  exactly  as  represented  in  some  geographies. 
Dogs  and  cats  are  eaten  by  those  who  can  afford  to 
buy  other  meat,  and  are  seen  for  sale  in  baskets  in  most 
all  the  public  places  in  cities;  the  latter  seeming  to  he 
aware  of  their  fate  by  the  piteous  mewings  kept  up 
amongst  them,  and  Chinese  dogs  are  said  to  have  a  par- 
ticular aversion  for  butchers,  in  consequence,  no  doubt, 
of  the  violation  of  those  personal  exemptions  and  privi- 
leges which  the  canine  race  are  allowed  to  enjoy  almost 
everywhere  else.  Dogs  indeed  arc  enumerated  as  a 
regular  article  of  food  in   one   of  their  ancient   books, 


CHINESE     MUSEUM CASE     XL  I.  171 

and  among  the  rich,  a  wild  cat,  previously  prepared  by 
feeding,  is  reckoned  a  delicacy.  An  amusing  anecdote 
is  told  of  a  foreigner  who  in  dining  with  a  wealthy  Chi- 
nese took  quite  a  fancy  to  one  of  the  dishes  upon  the 
table,  of  which  he  ate  considerable,  supposing  it  to  be 
duck,  but  to  satisfy  himself  on  this  point  beckoned  one 
of  the  servants  to  approach,  and  pointing  at  the  dish, 
in  an  enquiring  tone,  imitating  the  quacking  of  that 
fowl ;  when  much  to  his  discomfort  the  servant  shook 
his  head  and  answered  with  a  bow- wow- wow,  thus  in- 
forming him  he  had  been  eating  dog's-meat. 

If  the  rich  should  appear  to  be  fantastic  in  the  selec- 
tion of  their  diet,  the  poor  are  no  less  indiscriminate  in 
the  supply  of  theirs;  frogs,  toads,  water  snakes,  lizards, 
and  bats  are  purchased  by  the  latter,  and  among  in- 
sects the  locust,  grasshopper,  and  silkworm  are  eaten. 
The  two  former  are  sometimes  cooked  by  being  roast- 
ed alive,  and  are  esteemed  a  delicate  repast ;  the  latter 
is  taken  after  the  insect  has  wound  off  the  cocoon  of 
silk  and  cooked  by  baking.  By  some  epicures  the 
larvae  of  the  sphinx-moth,  as  well  as  a  grub  which  is 
bred  in  the  sugar-cane,  are  much  relished. 

As  might  be  expected  from  the  economical  habits  of 
the  people,  that  great  save-all,  the  pig,  is  universally 
reared  about  cottages,  and  its  flesh  is  by  far  the  com- 
monest meat :  a  maxim  of  the  Chinese  is,  "  that  a  schol- 
ar does  not  quit  his  books,  nor  the  poor  man  his  pigs." 
Oil  is  used  by  the  Chinese  in  cooking,  as  butter  is  with 
us,  and  is  usually  that  extracted  from  ground  or  pea 
nuts,  although  the  oil  extracted  from  the  ricinus,  which 
yields  the  castor  oil  of  medicine,  and  other  kinds  are 
frequently  used  ;  but  the  ricinus  oil  as  used  by  them  in 
its  fresh  state,  and  with  some  peculiar  preparation,  has 
neither  the  strong  detergent  properties,  nor  the  detest- 
able taste,  by  which  this  oil  is  known  with  us. 


172  CHINESE     MUSEUM. 

Lanterns,  Paintings,  frc. 

Among  the  great  number  of  lanterns  suspended  over 
head,  will  be  particularly  noticed  the  large  and  splen- 
didly embroidered  one,  hung  from  the  centre  piece  of 
the  fresco  work.  This  is  about  ten  feet  high,  and  is 
altogether  a  gorgeous  affair,  the  frame  being  beautifully 
carved  and  gilt,  the  panels  richly  embroidered,  and  there 
are  several  hundred  silk  tassels  pendant  from  different 
parts  of  it.  Such  lanterns  as  this  are  not  intended  to  be 
lighted,  and  are  used  only  in  processions  of  Mandarins, 
and  to  decorate  the  temples  when  they  visit  them,  as 
required  by  the  ritual,  to  offer  sacrifices  and  do  homage 
to  the  ancient  sages  and  emperors.  The  dragon  lantern 
will  also  be  noticed  ;  this,  with  the  fish  and  bird  lanterns 
hanging  in  different  parts  of  the  room,  and  also  those 
made  of  gauze  are  carried  in  the  yearly  dragon  proces- 
sions to  propitiate  that  fabled  monster.  Amongst  the 
others  are  two  very  large  ones,  made  of  horn,  with  silk 
tassels  around  them,  two  large  carved  king  wood  framed 
ones,  with  beautiful  painted  silk  panels,  and  four  beau- 
tiful ones  with  small  paper  figures,  capable  of  motion 
when  the  lanterns  are  lighted. 

Among  the  pictures  which  cover  the  wall  at  the  end, 
near  the  entrance,  and  of  which  there  are  between  four 
and  five  hundred  in  oil  and  water  colors,  are  two  large 
and  beautiful  paintings  of  the  city  of  Canton  and  Ho- 
nam  opposite  Canton,  portraits  of  Samqua,  Houqua, 
and  Linchung,  three  of  the  Hong  merchants,  dressed  in 
their  official  robes,  which  they  purchased  the  privilege 
of  wearing.  Houqua  was  generally  well  known  for  his 
riches ;  he  died  about  two  years  since,  and  left  about 
fifteen  millions  of  dollars,  after  paying  an  immense 
amount  to  the  government  during  the  troubles  with  the 
English.  The  portrait  on  the  left  of  Linchung  is  one 
of  a  Chinaman,  called  Boston  Jack,  who  is  well  known 


CHINESE     MUSEUM.  173 

to  all  persons  who  have  visited  China  as  he  furnishes 
the  ships  with  provisions.  Below  Linchung  and  Jack 
is  a  set  of  twelve  paintings  in  oil  colors,  representing 
the  life  of  a  successful  Chinaman  from  his  birth  to  his 
death.  Beneath  these  are  twelve  paintings,  showing 
the  growing  of  rice,  and  on  the  right  of  these,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  room,  are  twelve  more,  representing 
the  culture,  curing  and  packing  of  tea.  Over  the  beau- 
tiful paintings  of  flowers,  &c.  are  four  frames  with  six 
rice  paintings  in  each ;  the  two  on  the  left  showing  a 
funeral  procession,  and  the  two  on  the  right  a  marriage 
procession.  Over  the  large  paintings  are  two  portraits 
of  Chinese  beauties. 

Besides  those  mentioned  are  an  immense  number  of 
Chinese  views,  paintings  of  birds,  punishments,  vessels, 
fishes,  shells,  insects,  &c.  &c.  The  scroll  paintings 
hung  between  the  windows  over  the  large  cases  on  the 
west  side  of  the  room  represent  some  of  the  Budhist 
deities,  sitting  in  judgment  upon  the  souls  of  mortals, 
while  below  are  seen  the  guilty  suffering  the  most  horrid 
punishments,  such  as  being  boiled  in  cauldrons  of  mol- 
ten lead,  sawn  asunder,  thrown  on  beds  of  spikes,  &.c. 
Those  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  room  are  representa- 
tions of  some  of  the  Budhist  deities.  All  the  paintings 
in  the  Museum  are  the  work  of  Chinese  artists,  and  for 
execution  and  finish  speak  for  themselves. 


General  Remarks  upon  the  early  intercourse  with  China, 
her  present  commerce  with  foreign  nations,  her  govern- 
ment, frc. 

China  being  situated  on  the  eastern  border  of  Asia, 
appears  to  have  been  so  far  removed  from  other  great 


174  CHINESE     MUSEUM. 

nations  of  Antiquity,  that  little  was  known  by  them 
concerning  it,  and  the  notices  to  be  found  in  their  his- 
tories concerning  its  existence,  are  kw  and  uncertain. 
During  the  first  century  of  our  era,  under  the  reign  of 
the  celebrated  Han  dynasty,  the  Emperor  Mingty,  des- 
patched messengers  to  India,  who  brought  back  the  re- 
ligion of  Budha  ;  and  Hoty,  a  succeeding  Emperor,  sent 
an  envoy  to  seek  some  intercourse  with  the  western 
world,  who  is  said  to  have  reached  Arabia.  About  the 
middle  of  the  second  century,  as  recorded  in  Chinese 
history,  people  came  from  India  and  other  western  na- 
tions with  tribute,  and  from  that  time,  foreign  trade 
was  carried  on  at  Canton.  Under  this  head  of  tribute, 
was  probably  placed  the  presents  carried  by  the  em- 
bassy, despatched  by  the  Roman  Emperor,  Marcus  An- 
tonius,  to  China,  in  A.  D.  161,  to  acquaint  himself 
with  the  country  which  was  reported  to  produce  the 
beautiful  silks  supplied  to  his  luxurious  countrymen 
through  the  medium  of  India.  There  is  sufficient  evi- 
dence that  some  Nestorian  Christians  entered  China  as 
early  as  the  middle  of  the  seventh  century,  but  "  it  is 
to  the  Arabs  that  we  owe  the  first  distinct  account  of 
China,  and  of  its  peculiar  institutions  and  customs. 
Their  far  extended  conquest  brought  them  to  the  con- 
fines of  that  remote  empire;  and  the  enlightenment  of 
science  and  literature,  which  they  possessed  in  no  small 
degree  during  the  eighth  and  ninth  centuries,  led  many 
individuals  among  them  to  explore  unknown  countries, 
and  to  record  what  they  had  seen;"  Although  nearly 
1,000  years  have  elapsed  since  their  first  accounts  were 
written,  there  is  a  remarkable  identity  between  the 
Chinese,  as  they  are  therein  described,  and  the  same 
people  as  we  know  them  at  the  present  day. 

As  the  fact  may  not  be  familiar  to  all,  that  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  existence  of  an  immensely  populous  and 
wealthy  empire  in  the  remotest  parts  of  the  east  had  a 


CHINESE     MUSEUM.  175 

great  effect  in  the  discovery  of  our  continent  by  Colum- 
bus, a  short  description  of  the  origin  and  work  of  Mar- 
co Polo,  a  Venetian,  and  the  first  European  who  gave 
to  the  world  a  history  of  his  travels  in  those  distant  re- 
gions, is  here  given. 

His  father  Nicholas,  and  uncle  Matheo  Polo  first  vis- 
ited the  court  of  Cublai  Khan,  the  sovereign  potentate 
of  the  Tartars  and  Emperor  of  China,  who  completed 
the  conquest  of  the  Chinese  Empire,  began  by  his 
grandfather,  Ghenghis,  who  overthrew  all  the  indepen- 
dent powers  of  Tartary  and  made  himself  sole  master 
of  Central  Asia.  Nicholas  and  Matheo  embarked  from 
Venice  on  a  commercial  voyage  to  the  east,  about  the 
year  1255,  and  having  penetrated  to  the  Court  of 
Cublai,  by  whom  they  were  received  with  great  dis- 
tinction, from  political  motives,  it  is  supposed,  were 
furnished  with  letters  to  the  Pope,  entreating  him  to 
send  a  hundred  learned  men  to  instruct  the  sages  of 
his  empire  in  the  knowledge  of  the  Christian  faith,  and 
on  their  departure  for  Europe  were  invited  to  return. 
They  arrived  home  safely  in  1269,  and  having  deliv- 
ered their  letters  and  received  others  from  the  Pope, 
with  presents  to  the  Grand  Khan,  they  set  out  again 
for  the  remote  regions  of  Tartary  in  1271,  accompa- 
nied by  two  learned  friars  and  young  Marco,  who  was 
born  shortly  after  his  father  left  the  first  time.  The 
friars  becoming  alarmed  for  the  safety  of  their  lives  in 
Armenia,  where  a  war  was  raging,  took  refuge  in  a 
monastery  where  they  remained,  and  the  Polos,  after  a 
long  journey  and  suffering  many  hardships,  arrived  in 
the  dominions  of  Cublai,  who,  hearing  of  their  ap- 
proach, sent  officers  to  meet  them  at  forty  days  dis- 
tance from  the  court. 

The  Venetians  resided  about  seventeen  years  at  the 
Tartar  Court,  during  which  they  were  treated  with 
great  distinction  ;   and  Marco,  having  acquired  the  four 


176  CHINESE      MUSEUM. 

principal  languages  of  the  country,  was  employed  by 
the  Khan  in  missions  and  services  of  importance  in  va- 
rious parts  of  his  dominions.  At  length  after  consid- 
erable difficulty  in  obtaining  the  consent  of  the  Khan, 
the  Polos  set  out  on  their  return  to  Venice  by  sea, 
being  loaded  with  presents  of  rich  jewels  given  them  by 
their  patron,  who  made  them  promise  to  return  to  him 
after  they  had  visited  their  families.  They  arrived  in 
Venice  in  1295,  literally  laden  with  riches,  and  having 
heard,  on  their  journey,  of  the  death  of  their  old  bene- 
factor, they  considered  themselves  absolved  from  their 
promise  to  return.  Several  months  after  their  arrival, 
in  an  action  between  the  Genoese  and  Venetian  navies, 
Marco  Polo,  who  had  taken  the  command  of  one  of  the 
galleys  of  the  latter,  advancing  first  in  the  line,  was 
taken  prisoner  and  carried  to  Genoa  in  irons.  Here  he 
was  detained  in  prison,  and  all  offers  of  ransom  reject- 
ed. Having  had  his  papers  and  journals  sent  to  him 
from  Venice,  he  produced  his  work  on  China. 

This  work  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  principal 
lights  used  by  the  Portuguese  in  the  fifteenth  century, 
when  the  attention  of  the  world  was  turned  towards  the 
remote  parts  of  Asia,  and  they  were  attempting  to  cir- 
cumnavigate Africa;  and  from  Marco  Polo's  descrip- 
tions of  the  situation  of  China  and  the  islands  on  the 
coast,  and  the  state  of  geographical  knowledge  of  the 
day,  Columbus  was  led  to  believe  that  by  sailing  in  a 
westerly  direction  he  should  reach  the  eastern  shores  of 
Asia.  With  this  idea,  and  the  supposition  that  the  cir- 
cumference of  the  earth  was  much  less  that  it  was  af- 
terwards found  to  be,  he  set  sail  from  Spain,  and  when 
he  arrived  among  the  West  India  islands,  we  find  him 
trying  to  identify  the  island  of  Cipango  of  which  Marco 
Polo  gave  a  splendid  description.  We  afterwards  find 
him  seeking  in  the  island  of  Cuba,  which  he  supposed, 
from  the  accounts  of  the  natives,  and  his  own  observa- 


CHINESE     MUSEUM.  177 

tion  to  be  a  part  of  the  main  land,  for  the  rich  city  of 
Cambalu,  (Peking,)  in  the  Province  of  Cathay,  the 
winter  residence  of  the  Great  Khan,  and  where,  accord- 
ing to  Marco  Polo,  was  to  be  seen,  "  in  wonderful 
abundance,  the  precious  stones,  the  pearls,  the  silks, 
and  the  diverse  perfumes  of  the  East." 

"  The  sumptuous  descriptions  given  by  Marco  Polo," 
says  Irving,  "  of  countries  teeming  with  wealth,  and 
cities  whose  very  domes  and  palaces  flamed  with  gold, 
induced  Columbus,  who  was  confident  of  soon  arriving 
at  these  countries,  to  hold  forth  those  promises  of  imme- 
diate wealth  to  the  Spanish  Sovereigns,  which  caused 
much  disappointment,  and  brought  upon  him  the  fre- 
quent reproach  of  exciting  false  hopes  and  indulging  in 
wilful  exaggeration." 

"  He  died,"  continues  Irving,  "  in  ignorance  of  the 
real  grandeur  of  his  discovery.  Until  his  last  breath, 
he  entertained  the  idea  that  he  had  merely  opened  a 
new  way  to  the  old  resorts  of  opulent  commerce,  and 
had  discovered  some  of  the  wild  regions  of  the  east. 
He  supposed  Hispaniola  to  be  the  ancient  Ophir,  which 
had  been  visited  by  the  ships  of  Solomon,  and  that 
Cuba  and  Terra  Firma  were  but  remote  parts  of  Asia. 
In  all  his  voyages  he  was  continually  seeking  after  the 
territories  of  the  Grand  Khan,  and  even  after  his  last 
expedition,  when  nearly  worn  out  by  age,  hardships  and 
infirmities,  he  offered  in  a  letter  to  the  Spanish  mon- 
archs,  written  from  a  bed  of  sickness,  to  conduct  any 
missionary  to  the  territories  of  the  Tartar  Emperor, 
who  would  undertake  his  conversion." 

The  first  Europeans  who  traded  directly  with  China 
were  the  Portuguese,  who  made  their  appearance  at 
Canton  in  1546,  not  many  years  after  their  celebrated 
navigator,  Vasco  De  Gama,  discovered  the  passage 
around  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope.  But  it  was  not  until 
about  the  middle  of  the  16th  century,  that  they  estab- 

23 


178  CHINESE     MUSEUM. 

lished  themselves  at  Macao,  for  the  use  of  which  place 
they  still  pay  a  ground  rent  to  the  Chinese  of  500  taels 
per  annum.  The  only  privilege  they  appear  to  possess 
is  that  of  governing  themselves ;  as  the  Chinese  popu- 
lation of  the  town  is  entirely  under  the  control  of  the 
Mandarins. 

The  Spaniards  soon  followed  the  Portuguese,  but 
they  have  derived  less  advantage  from  an  intercourse 
with  China  than  most  other  nations,  notwithstanding  the 
vast  advantage  which  they  possess  in  the  locality  of 
Manila  and  the  Philipine  islands,  within  a  few  days'  sail 
of  China,  and  approached  with  equal  facility  in  either 
monsoon. 

The  first  attempt  made  by  the  English  to  establish  a 
trade  with  China,  was  during  the  reign  of  Elizabeth,  in 
1596,  but  the  vessels  sent  out  were  wrecked  on  the  out- 
ward passage,  and,  owing  to  the  jealousy  and  misrepre- 
sentations of  the  Portuguese,  their  future  attempts,  and 
those  of  the  E.  I.  C.  were  unsuccessful  until  about  the 
beginning  of  the  last  century. 

The  first  American  vessel  sent  out  to  China,  sailed 
from  New  York  in  1784.  She  was  soon  followed  by 
others,  and  the  trade  rapidly  increased  until  1789,  when 
there  were  more  American  vessels  at  Canton  than  from 
any  other  country  except  Great  Britain  ;  and  the  Ameri- 
can trade  with  China  is  now  much  larger  than  that  of  any 
other  country  except  England.  The  number  of  ships 
employed  by  the  latter  being  more  than  two  hundred, 
employing  a  capital  of  upwards  of  $20,000,000  while 
we  have  about  seventy  ships  in  the  China  trade,  and  a 
capital  of  about  $7,000,000.  The  present  total  exports 
from  China  amounts  to  about  $40,000,000,  of  which 
about  $15,000,000  worth  are  teas,  over  $14,000,000 
treasure,  nearly  $6,000,000  raw  silks,  silk  thread,  and 
silk  goods ;  and  the  balance  is  cassia,  sugar,  sugar  can- 
dy, lacquered  ware,   ivory  articles,  matting,   fans,  &c. 


CHINESE      MUSEUM.  179 

&c.  The  imports,  amounting  to  about  the  same  sum 
consist  of  the  following  articles;  opium,  rice,  treasure 
and  pearls ;  principally  the  first,  which  amounts  to  up- 
wards of  #20,000,000,  ginseng  #300,000,  raw  cotton 
#6,000,000,  cotton  manufactures  and  cotton  yarn  #4,- 
000,000,  woolen  manufactures  of  all  kinds  #2,047,000, 
metals  of  all  kinds  #1,500,000,  and  the  balance  in  other 
goods,  such  as  betel  nut,  bicho  de  mar,  birds'  nests,  &c. 

The  goods  which  we  buy  from  the  Chinese  are  paid 
for  partly  in  cotton  goods,  ginseng  and  lead,  but  prin- 
cipally by  bills  drawn  on  London  bankers,  who  have 
agencies  in  the  United  States  to  furnish  letters  of  credit 
to  foreign  traders.  They  loan  nothing  but  their  credit, 
as  the  bills  drawn  upon  them  are  made  payable  far 
enough  in  advance  for  the  proceeds  of  the  goods  for 
which  they  were  drawn  to  meet  them. 

The  English,  in  addition  to  paying  (the  Chinese)  for 
all  the  teas,  silks,  &c.  with  their  cotton,  cotton  goods, 
and  opium,  are  annually  drawing  an  immense  amount 
of  the  precious  metals  from  China,  the  proceeds  of  the 
latter  article. 

Formerly,  all  the  business  done  by  China  with  other 
nations  except  Russia,  was  carried  on  by  the  Cohong 
or  body  of  Hong  merchants,  of  which  nearly  every  one 
has  heard  who  has  heard  of  China.  This  body  was  a 
monopoly  established  by  the  government  to  conduct  the 
trade  with  foreigners,  and  consisted  of  a  few  persons, 
who  were  allowed  to  trade  singly,  although,  until  1830, 
the  whole  body  was  liable  for  all  the  foreign  debts  of 
each  individual.  Some  of  the  Hong  merchants  made 
large  fortunes,  but  they  lived  in  a  state  of  continual  un- 
certainty, as  having  once  become  members  of  the  Co- 
hong, they  were  seldom  allowed  to  leave  it,  unless  in 
case  of  failure,  and  they  were  liable  to  be  "  squeezed  " 
(as  the  Chinese  call  it)  at  any  time,  by  the  Mandarins, 
who  under  various  pretexts  exacted  large  amounts  from 


} 


180  CHINESE     MUSEUM. 

them.  Some  one  of  the  body  was  obliged  to  become 
security  for  the  payment  of  the  port  charges,  duties,  and 
good  behavior  of  every  vessel  entering  the  port  for  trade. 
This  monopoly  was  abolished  by  the  treaty  between 
China  and  Great  Britain,  and  the  foreign  trade  made 
free  to  all. 

The  Chinese  have  been  ridiculed  for  assuming  to  be 
the  only  civilized  nation  in  the  world.  This  assump- 
tion is  probably  owing  to  their  peculiar  institutions. 
They  live  on  the  past,  we  on  the  future,  and  conse- 
quently they  are  not  to  be  judged  by  our  standard.  We 
have  thousands  of  presses  furnishing  information  of  all 
kinds  and  from  all  quarters  of  the  globe,  which  is  dis- 
tributed with  astonishing  rapidity  to  every  one.  They 
have  no  newspapers  except  those  used  for  government 
purposes,  which  have  a  very  limited  circulation,  and 
information  with  them,  like  light  from  some  distant 
world,  which  may  have  been  blotted  from  existence  for 
years,  does  not  reach  the  mass  of  the  Chinese  until  it 
has  ceased  to  be  new  to  the  rest  of  the  world.  There 
was  a  time,  and  that  not  many  centuries  since,  that  the 
Chinese  were  father  advanced  in  the  arts  of  civilized 
life  than  any  European  nation,  and  they  are  still  far  in 
advance  of  the  rest  of  Asia.  Is  it  strange  then  when 
they  see  the  greatest  European  nation  seize  upon  the 
neighboring  country  of  India  and  clandestinely  flood 
their  shores  with  a  drug  which  destroys  thousands,  and  is 
known  to  be  prohibited  by  their  laws,  that  they  should 
look  upon  them  as  barbarians.  Is  it  strange  when  they 
formerly  saw  the  governments  and  merchants  of  foreign 
nations  belieing  each  other  and  perpetually  quarreling  for 
the  sake  of  gain  that  they  should  look  upon  them  all  with 
suspicion  and  contempt  and  call  them  "Fan-quVs"  "for- 
eign devils  !"  When  foreigners  first  began  trading  with 
the  Chinese,  every  port  was  open  to  their  commerce,  and 
the  trade  was  free  to  all ;  the  country  was  also  open  to 


CHINESE     MUSEUM.  181 

missionaries,  and  the  Catholics  converted  many  thou- 
sands to  their  faith  and  stood  high  in  favor  with  the 
government,  but  the  misconduct  of  the  former  caused 
them  to  be  confined  in  their  trade  to  Canton,  and  the 
attempts  of  the  latter  to  interfere  with  the  government 
caused  them  to  be  excluded  from  the  country.  The 
Chinese  have  also  been  denounced  for  their  exclusive- 
ness  ;  but  who  can  doubt  its  being  the  correct  policy  of 
her  rulers  to  ensure  the  stability  of  their  government. 
They  themselves  are  foreigners,  were  invited  into  the 
Empire  to  quell  a  rebellion,  which  they  did,  and  then 
took  possession,  and  they  well  know  the  danger  they 
subject  themselves  to  by  the  visits  of  strangers. 

In  1812,  according  to  the  best  Chinese  authority,  there 
were  in  the  eighteen  provinces  of  China  360,279,827 
inhabitants,  and  2,167,286  in  Tartary,  subject  to  the 
Chinese  government.  As  they  have  had  no  wars  of 
consequence  since  that  time,  and  the  cholera  is  said  to 
have  passed  lightly  over  this  nation  they  must  now  ex- 
ceed 400,000,000.  The  eighteen  provinces  contain 
830,719,360  English  acres,  more  than  three-fourths  of 
which  are  under  cultivation,  and  with  a  climate  so  vari- 
ous, that  everything  they  wish  lor  is  produced  by  them- 
selves, they  need  not  and  care  not  for  foreign  com- 
merce. 

Twenty-seven  dynasties,  furnishing  two  hundred  and 
forty-three  sovereigns  including  the  present  and  ex- 
cluding those  considered  mythological  by  the  Chinese 
themselves,  have  swayed  the  destinies  of  China  for 
more  than  4,600  years.  Well  may  the  Tartar  and  his 
subjects  be  proud  of  the  throne  upon  which  he  sits  unri- 
valled as  it  stands  in  the  annals  of  the  world,  and  with- 
out boasting  can  they  point  to  its  antiquity,  and  that  of 
their  laws  and  customs,  founded  prior,  or  at  least  coeval 
with  the  Empire  of  Babylon,  the  very  site  of  whose 


182  CHINESE     MUSEUM. 

greatest  city,  with  its  stupendous  walls  and  hundred 
gates  of  brass,  is  now  a  matter  of  doubt. 

Other  great  empires  and  kingdoms  have  risen  and 
flourished  for  a  season,  but  where  are  they  ?  Go,  seek 
their  history  among  the  pyramids  and  ruins  of  splendid 
edifices,  the  equals  of  which  the  world  may  never  see 
again. 

The  most  powerful  modern  kingdoms  of  Europe  are 
but  of  yesterday  compared  with  China.  While  they 
count  their  existence  by  hundreds,  she  reckons  hers  by 
thousands  of  years  and  is  now  in  the  enjoyment  of  a 
green  old  age  under  the  administration  of  laws  founded 
upon  the  precepts  of  her  sages. 


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